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Book. ^_qL£2 

Copyright^ 



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THE PAST REVEALED 



THE PAST REVEALED 



A SERIES OF REVELATIONS CONCERNING 
THE EARLY SCRIPTURES 



RECORDED BY 



E. C. GAFFIELD 

AUTHOR OF "A SERIES OF MEDITATIONS," AND 
" A CELESTIAL MESSAGE" 



AUTHOB'S EDITION 



BOSTON 
LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

DEC 20 1905 

Copyright Cnlry 

CLASS A XXC. No 

/ $*??$- 

COPY B. 






Published, December, 1905, 



Copyright, 1905, 
By E. C. GAFFIELD. 



All Bights Reserved. 



The Past Kevealed. 



J. S. Cushing & Co. — Berwick & Smith Co. 
Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. 



J 






£ ISetucate tijfe JSoofe 



UNTO THOSE INTELLIGENCES WHO HAVE SO 

GRACIOUSLY ASSISTED ME IN 

ITS PRODUCTION 

ERASTUS C. GAFFIELD 



THE PAST EEVEALED 



" In the beginning God created the heavens and 
the earth." — Genesis 1: 1. 

In further reference to first conditions, and 
of causes of the subsequent physical changes 
wrought upon earth, it may be said that in 
the beginning the Infinite Spirit willed the 
Perfect Law, and that the practical illustra- 
tion of its inherent force and wise provisions 
has been assumed by certain illuminated 
intelligences, who, possessing superior wisdom 
and a knowledge of its provisions, have since 
then, through its execution, wrought many 
important climatic changes, such as were 
required in preparation for its inhabitation 
by man — the first expression or spiritual 
manifestation of the principle of life being 
the floral exhibitions, succeeded by animal 
creations whose physical forms have with 

[7] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

few unimportant changes continued through 
the ages ; time having proved them well adapted 
to perform the useful labors to which they have 
been since assigned by man. 

Many cycles after the beginning, the physical 
conditions of earth having been changed so 
as to permit human residence, man, a more 
complex expression of the Principle, in coopera- 
tion with those in celestial spheres, materialized 
the physical frame as a vehicle of the Self 
so perfectly created to serve all needs, that 
the spirit has since inhabited and used it 
while dwelling in the magnetic atmospheres 
of earth. 

If the statement is absolute, that all spirit 
is uncreate, eternal, and an inextinguishable 
Principle, it logically follows that previous 
to man's first appearance upon earth in a 
physical body, he must have had for infinite 
eons of time an existence somewhere. 

Whence came he to this planet and for 
what purpose? We believe, and our belief 
is confirmed by intelligences from the celestial 
world, that the impulse directing him hither 
was inspired for the purpose of affording him 

[8] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

opportunities for the realization of destiny, 
perfect unity with the Infinite Spirit after 
the correction of all errors committed while 
in bondage to the senses. 

Before the existence of inhabitable condi- 
tions upon the earth, there were, as now, many 
planets in the universe, where only very 
rudimentary conditions of life prevailed, in- 
habited by beings in various stages of evolu- 
tionary progress, by multitudes who had 
attained only very circumscribed powers of 
reason, a limited control over weak and im- 
perfectly developed mental faculties, which 
but partially reflected the intuitions of spirit, 
which could not have been used for the investi- 
gation of the laws of cosmic creation, evolu- 
tion, or other scientific facts, nor for the 
teaching of ethical precepts, all useful knowl- 
edge, subsequently acquired by man, but not 
then conceived as having possible existence. 
From such very primitive conditions, after 
having acquired an understanding of certain 
inherent principles of the Law, graduations 
sometimes occurred. Many aspiring, intuitive 
ones, having realized certain degrees of spiritual 

[9] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

understanding, and having passed out of their 
physical bodies, entered into celestial states 
of existence where larger opportunities were 
afforded for acquiring knowledge of the divine 
principles of the Law, and for a more perfect 
realization of spiritual aspirations. Such 
needed not further experience upon material 
planes. Vast multitudes, however, required 
and sought new experiences in physical states, 
and without them could have made but little 
progress in the accomplishment of destiny. 

Therefore it may be said that the beginning 
referred to in the first verse of Genesis relates 
to the molding of the plastic elements, fore- 
existent in space, into conditions adapted to 
the production of such things as physical 
beings would require when they should appear, 
who, at first though manifesting only very 
rudimentary states of intellectual perception, 
would have certain natural wants, such as 
air to breathe, water to drink, and food to eat. 
The text in no way relates to the calling into 
existence of original elements concerning which 
no one can conceive a possible explanation. 

The first immigrants to earth came without 

[10] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

materialized forms, after having accomplished 
missions in other planets, while incarnated 
in bodies adapted to conditions there prevail- 
ing. They came gladly hither as to a new 
Golconda, where they hoped to achieve im- 
portant victories over the elements, and to 
realize spiritual and material progress when 
conditions should permit them to again assume 
physical bodies. 

Doubtless some of them may have perceived, 
as in a fore-world of vision, the magnificent 
possibilities of the future, which were by them- 
selves and their successors to be translated 
into practical realities, as in all times those 
concerned in the cause of human progress 
have, with alternations of success and tempo- 
rary failure, labored to create new and better 
opportunities of life, and when blessed by 
favorable conditions have succeeded so well 
that those living in later periods have realized, 
more or less definitely, ability to define rela- 
tions of the spirit in man to the Infinite Spirit. 

Although contrary to the generally accepted 
belief of the world, it may be stated as cor- 
rect, that even before conditions upon this 

[11] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

planet had so far improved as to make phys- 
ical residence possible, a great number immi- 
grated to earth hoping to avail themselves 
of prospective opportunities, intuitively per- 
ceiving that at the proper time they would 
again be clothed in material habiliments. 
Previous to that period the moon had been 
inhabited by races which had made some 
progress toward the civilized state, as much 
as the decaying conditions of that planet per- 
mitted. From this source alone came a great 
multitude, all eager for further conquests. 
After having materialized forms they instinc- 
tively remained in those sections of this planet 
where climatic conditions were similar to those 
prevailing in planets from which they came. 
The regions of the far north were first inhab- 
ited by physical humanity. Here for unnum- 
bered ages lived a race, small in stature, given 
to the chase, without knowledge of many re- 
finements subsequently realized in latitudes 
farther south, peacefully inclined, the repre- 
sentatives of an order or condition of life like 
unto that which their predecessors had evolved 
in other planets. It may be stated that the 

[12] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

destruction of life possibilities upon the moon 
and the formation of inhabitable conditions 
for man upon the earth were coeval. 

Before that period "there was darkness 
upon the face of the deep." But subsequently 
the Infinite Spirit, through the Law, caused 
many manifestations of His Omnipotent Wis- 
dom, to a few of which we will briefly refer : — 

"And God said, Let there be light; and there 
was light/' — Genesis 1 : 3. 

In the beginning the first evidence of the 
existence and force of the Law was manifested 
in vibratory action, causing a separation of 
the conglomerated elements previously in a 
state of inaction. Under the potential power 
of that force the inert elements responded. 
The electrical and magnetic conditions, upon 
which apparently the whole universe is de- 
pendent, were doubtless fore-existent, un- 
create, but had never before the period to 
which we refer received the impulse of ex- 
pression upon this planet. Without such 
direction there could have been no separation 
of light from darkness. There would have 

[13] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

continued a permanent state of darkness such 
as precedes all creative manifestations. Prob- 
ably no greater exercise of Infinite Wisdom 
can be conceived by the human mind than 
that expression of the Law by which the vi- 
bratory rates of the earth were established. 
The inchoate, inert elements having received 
the impulse of an omnipotent and perfect 
Law were through its forceful action sepa- 
rated, each part thereof made to assume its 
proper function and relation to other parts, 
thereby evolving potentialities destined to 
accomplish foreordained results. The earth 
then took its place in the revolving spheres. 
The Almighty by His Law said, "Let there 
be light," and forever since has the Law's 
supreme control over the elements of nature 
continued. And thereafter conditions were 
prepared for the inhabitation of the earth 
by races of beings inherently the possessors 
of the Divine Principle, and destined how- 
soever slowly, but with certainty, to dis- 
cover all the material laws governing earth, 
and to be limited in discoveries of spiritual 

laws only by realizations of correspondences 

[14] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

to the Infinite Spirit. Man was the first and 
only spirit who has ever inherited or evolved 
the divine self -consciousness. 

" And there was light." — Ibid. 

As previously stated the Divine Will, ex- 
pressed through the Perfect Law, caused the 
dormant elements of space to respond to the 
impact of spiritual forces. Upon a proper 
understanding of those laws the progress of 
mankind has since depended. The original 
design or purpose in its ordainment is now 
apparent to all intelligent persons, though 
the lessons conveyed by its operation have 
not always been clearly interpreted — often 
wholly misunderstood. As the objects of 
the manifestations have rarely been in stated 
terms clearly defined, man has found there 
his principal arena of investigation. Upon 
the true discoveries of the real purpose of such 
manifestations have depended the solution 
of his responsibility to the Law itself and of 
his realization of ability to execute some of 
its minor provisions. There was in the be- 
ginning, as now, a possibility that he might 

[15] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

through the attainment of wisdom bear in- 
creasingly occult relations to the Source or 
Origin of all life, and by faithfulness to the 
intuitions of conscience discover his own spir- 
itual self and its plenitude of powers, and 
finally attain important control over elemen- 
tal forces. 

He was so endowed that when the prin- 
ciple of harmony should attain supreme 
control, he would perceive his relation to 
the Infinite Light and perfectly realize the 
possibilities of the spirit within, but if deaf 
to such influences, the lessons of hard experi- 
ence would be outwrought, until like a prodi- 
gal, weary and foot-sore, he should discover 
the presence and the infinite possibilities of 
the divine self, for it was in the beginning his 
destiny to evolve an esoteric perception of the 
Light, infinitely more important to him than 
the exoteric or outward expressions of the 
Law which at first would attract his atten- 
tion. The perception of his own divine in- 
heritance has been a gradual realization, but 
far more important than any deductions of 
the scientifically and materially inclined. 

[16] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

When we consider the exhibitions of power 
and wisdom manifested through vibratory 
action and the separation of the cohering ele- 
ments caused thereby, each of such separated 
particles continuing to reveal the potentiali- 
ties and modes of the Law, we may know 
that such perfection of expression is absolute 
evidence of the divine origin of the Law it- 
self. Millions of spiritual beings from other 
planets had, from time to time, been at- 
tracted to earth, all waiting materialization 
of forms, and to further their successful evo- 
lution to higher planes of existence, identity 
and memory of previous lives were concealed, 
permitting free play for the faculties in order 
that each might effect conquest over every 
impeding obstacle. At the period concern- 
ing which we now write only one great 
object apparently remained to be accom- 
plished to enable man to again renew the 
labors needful for and incident to a life of 
progress. 

Omitting extended reference to the crea- 
tion of living creatures, made to inhabit the 
waters and the land, or to the flora of the 

[17] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

earth, and millions of other important and 
necessary productions since largely applied 
by him to material uses, we approach the 
important period when in the fullness of time 
another evidence of the great pre-knowledge 
of the Infinite Architect and Author of the 
Universal Law was to be revealed. From ap- 
parent chaos, harmonial relation of forces had 
already found expression. Order, the first 
requisite of the Principle, had as if it were the 
special representative of the Supreme Spirit, 
already asserted its supremacy in the syste- 
matic manifestation of the Law. Conditions 
had evolved under which man might perceive 
justice, equity, and love as abiding foundation 
principles. But strange as it may appear to 
us such self-evident principles at first found 
no intelligent exponent. There was, how- 
ever, evident necessity for the physical pres- 
ence upon earth of those capable of applying 
to personal benefit the many advantages de- 
rivable from an orderly reign of Law. From 
out of the cosmic or universal elements the 
spirit, aided by celestial intelligences, in the 
sixth cycle of time, materialized for itself 

[18] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

the physical form, so created that those hav- 
ing received it while living in the magnetic at- 
mospheres of earth became the progenitors of 
a race destined to carry to successful issue the 
physical redemption of the world and through 
labor realize final spiritual destiny. Time 
and conditions were favorable for the success 
of his efforts, as the earth could then produce 
all material things needful for his physical 
sustenance. 



[19] 



II 

" And God said, Let us make man in our image, 
after our likeness : and let them have dominion over 
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and 
over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every 
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." 

— Genesis 1 : 26. 

" So God created man in his own image, in the 
image of God created he him; male and female 
created he them." — Ibid. 27. 

There was first an incoherent mass of plas- 
tic elements; afterwards the wisdom of Infi- 
nite Intelligence, revealed through a perfect 
Law, succeeded by a gradual evolution of 
conditions that permitted and required the 
visible presence of controlling spiritual forces, 
demonstrating through physical forms. With 
constantly increasing power, the spirit man, 
with alternations of success and failure, has, 
in celestial spheres, since his first incarnation 
upon earth, made progress, often serving in 
place of the earlier vicegerents or executive 

[20] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

agents of the Law for the demonstration of 
many of its minor provisions. In such ratios 
as he has developed ability to perceive his re- 
lations to it ; he has increased in wisdom until 
now his executive capacity enables him to 
successfully direct many important matters 
which in the beginning were under the ex- 
clusive control of certain spiritually illumined 
beings, then denizens of the higher spheres. 
Some of the Law's provisions are of necessity 
still concealed from him on account of his 
inability to comprehend their complexity, and 
until he shall have made further prog- 
ress his power to demonstrate the purpose 
of such provisions in the cosmic order must 
remain in abeyance. As no exterior influence 
has ever prevented the orderly operation of 
the Law, or in any manner changed its modes 
or the results of its action, it follows that dis- 
coveries in all the ages have been in harmony 
with the orderly manifestation of its provi- 
sions. The expressions of the Law have been 
such as to increase practical, useful knowledge 
and to aid the cause of civilization. Every 
discovery has demonstrated its perfection. 

[21] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

Doubtless there are higher and more sublime 
evidences of the Supreme Wisdom concealed 
within the loom of nature which will be re- 
vealed in the due course of human progress. 
What has since the beginning been accom- 
plished, as it were, in preparation for more 
interesting revelations, can in no sense be 
regarded miraculous interventions nor any- 
thing beyond the orderly operation of natural 
forces. Man before his inhabitation of the 
physical body did not realize the scope of 
the Law nor its perfection, nor that under 
its beneficent sway he was to enter a career 
of evolution from previous low estates towards 
the attainment of higher and better conditions. 
When, however, the physical state of the 
earth permitted the residence of man thereon, 
another expression of a theretofore concealed 
provision of the Law was discovered. He 
then learned that he could receive the co- 
operation of those in celestial states of ex- 
istence, in the materialization of form. As 
the Infinite Spirit, through Law, had illus- 
trated His Wisdom and Power by mold- 
ing the changeable matter of earth, so also 

[22] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

the human body about to be materialized 
was composed from the elements, and made 
subject to both the spiritual and material influ- 
ence. Had all previous results, though mani- 
fold, been limited by what had been already 
accomplished, without such materialization 
there would have been apparently a failure 
of original purpose for the conquest of the 
planet, as no opportunity to secure the objects 
of their coming hither would have been af- 
forded those intelligences who had willingly 
submitted to circumscription and exile, in 
order to realize further progress. The ap- 
pearance of a superior intelligent order of 
beings clothed in physical forms, more complex 
and delicate than those previously evolved for 
service of the lower orders, had from the 
beginning evidently been necessary for the 
complete possession of the material world. 
Spiritual beings long existed within the at- 
mospheres of the new earth before they were 
provided with vehicles of expression or physi- 
cal bodies for inhabitation, and many of 
them had previously acquired some knowledge 
of certain laws and conditions upon other 

[23] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

planets which they confidently expected to 
apply for individual benefit upon the earth. 
The special needs for each entity in life's 
prospective service — the individual possession 
of and exercise of physical force, if we may 
so express the thought — has since the begin- 
ning been largely increased by the active use 
of mind and body. 

In the sixth cycle of the physical evolution 
of the earth, the perfection of the Law was 
very distinctly manifested, and has com- 
manded the reverent consideration of thought- 
ful persons in all succeeding centuries. The 
Infinite Spirit manifesting through the Law 
inspired His vicegerents, as if by some special 
direction, how to cooperate with the spirit 
man in the materialization of the first physi- 
cal body, how to create it in such form that 
the counterpart thereof would thereafter con- 
tinuously serve as the vehicle of spirit, while 
sustaining relations to material affairs. The 
divine principle in man has forever since, 
while incarnated upon the objective plane, 
employed bodies similar to the first prototype, 

for the accomplishment of its designs, such 

[24] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

having proved very well adapted to all pur- 
suits, and especially useful in those occupations 
of spirit relating to the discovery of the laws 
to which it is itself subject. The Divine 
Intelligence reflected in the consciousness of 
man has in the past and doubtless will continue 
to discover new employments, and as climatic 
changes permit new productions of earth, will 
continue to afford material for him to mold 
into objects of beauty and utility, such as 
the advancing needs of civilization may 
demand. 

After materialization and the subsequent 
multiplication of forms, through the laws of 
generation, in perfect confidence, as if supplied 
from some great and exhaustless reservoir, 
containing unlimited reserves of wisdom and 
force, capable of leading on its votaries to 
deific accomplishments, innumerable spiritual 
entities, clothed in physical habiliments, 
entered upon the new stage with purposes 
more or less clearly defined, some apparently 
poorly equipped for the great services which 
future exigencies might demand of them, yet 
with the will to overcome all opposing ob- 

[25] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

stacles. And here let us state that a belief 
in the controlling influences of certain inde- 
pendent, physical forces in the universe of 
matter, irrespective of the Law, has always 
been a figment of the imagination, and if such 
beliefs were held in earlier states of human 
development, it clearly proves the fact that 
the first types of humanity did not understand 
the nature of the Law nor its modes of manifes- 
tation. Strange as it may seem, spiritual laws, 
after the assumption of physical forms by spirit, 
were not realized as of supreme importance, 
nor was personal safety respected. Each one 
inclined to follow the leadings of passion 
or desire, though there was then as at the 
present time an infinite reservoir of wisdom 
available unto those who could fathom the 
apparent mysteries of nature. In the early 
periods, however, few if any sought such cor- 
respondences. Then as now in physical life 
the Universal Law prevailed, and exacted abso- 
lute obedience, but man did not possess suffi- 
cient wisdom to understand its requirements, 
and did not realize the many possible spiritual 
and material benefits derivable from an obser- 

[26] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

vance of its provisions. Unto him they were 
as though non-existent. A certain freedom 
of the will differentiated him from animal 
races, a prophecy of future spiritual develop- 
ment and physical triumphs over the opposing 
obstacles of nature, and the final realization 
of the divine self-consciousness. 

"Let us make man in our image. So God 
created He him." This statement evidently 
refers to the cooperation of certain celestial 
beings in the first materialization of physical 
form, which was created in the likeness or 
image of their own spiritual bodies. The 
word "God" is synonymous with " Spirit," and 
in no manner relates to the Infinite Intelligence. 
We presume it will not be necessary at the 
present day to deny that the Infinite, Univer- 
sal Spirit has ever defined for itself a physical 
form. The Infinite cannot be illogical. He is 
not Universal, Omnipresent, Omniconscious, 
and yet confined to physical limitations in 
any respect similar to that which spirit has 
assumed as a convenient, useful instrument 
for special purposes in a world of crude 
elements, in which it is itself to be perfected 

[27] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

"in the image of the higher." And now we 
state through this instrument of the spirit world 
that God never directly created or even called 
into activity the spirit in man. That is un- 
create and eternal. The Infinite, by the dis- 
pensation of Law as manifested in the creation 
of this world, in a sense, appealing to reason, 
may have apparently submitted to certain 
limitations of His own infinity. Let us con- 
ceive, for purpose of illustration, the existence 
of the Great Cosmic Infinite Spirit, and also 
the existence of a thousand worlds awaiting 
the impetus of Law. When one of such worlds, 
for instance the earth, was set in motion and 
all conditions and contingencies duly provided 
for under an unchanging and perfect Law, in 
a certain sense the Infinite Spirit may have 
imposed apparent limitations upon Himself 
in manifestation, have, as it were, sacrificed 
Himself, if one so please to term it, — yet not 
a relinquishment or loss of any attribute 
of His nature, for that would be impos- 
sible; as when the end of such creation had 
been subserved, there would be available and 
subject to the Infinite control the same forces 

[28] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

originally delegated for manifestation in law, 
during the limited cycles of the earth's dura- 
tion. That separated or defined expression of 
Deity through Law does in reality constitute 
our world, so far as human conception extends, 
and by many beneficent revelations each spirit- 
ual entity receives its experience, and unto the 
guardian intelligences serving as vicegerents 
or executive agents of the Law, each may 
appeal for instruction how best to realize 
destiny. As with the earth, so with all worlds. 
God, Author of the Law, and Creator of 
planets, is, indeed, Infinite Spirit, but neither 
Angel, Archangel, nor Seraphim has ever beheld 
Him or received a clear and perfect definition of 
His essential attributes. Even states of perfect 
tranquillity, where all opposing forces have 
been overcome, and power realized of drawing 
upon an exhaustless fountain, do not presup- 
pose equality with or ability to fully describe 
or comprehend Deity. Such comprehension 
would be evidence of cosmic perfection not 
attainable under limitations. Nor do we teach 
that the spirit of man is ever completely ab- 
sorbed by, or assimilated with, the Infinite 

[29] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

Spirit. The evidence of such assimilation 
would, on account of human limitations, be 
improcurable. This, however, we may assert, 
— that in perfect relation to the attainment 
of light, and in the correspondences therewith, 
the spirit is attracted toward the Great Central 
Light. There are those in the higher and more 
perfect realizations of spirit who have attained 
to such advanced states of illumination as 
to appear to those upon lower planes of 
progress to have realized perfect unity with 
Deity. Such impressions, however, are prob- 
ably but the reflections of a more perfect 
and radiant state of existence for which every 
one may aspire. Let us be mindful of the 
great fact that in all conditions the law of 
progress inheres. The divine impulse for the 
aquirement of spiritual wisdom is now more 
positively manifested than in the beginning, 
and is working an evolution in spiritual 
affairs upon earth which will enable man to 
evolve from his own consciousness new 
worlds, more perfect counterparts of that 
which really exists in spiritual realms than 
any heretofore conceived, for it is his destiny 

[30] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

finally to permanently enter that state of 
illumination in which the rhythms of nature 
appeal to consciousness, and are reflected as 
beautiful harmonies, under influences which 
obtain in celestial states. When out of the 
elements he, in cooperation with exalted 
intelligences, created for himself a physi- 
cal form, adjusted and organized in some 
respects like unto those which serve as vehi- 
cles of expression in other spheres, in a certain 
sense it may be said there was "breathed into 
it the breath of life," i.e. under the Law the 
spirit was able to give such form needful im- 
pulse in the first simple labors required of it. 
It is not necessary to state here that in 
the beginning only portions of the inherent 
spiritual possibilities of man were expressed, 
yet such will readily appear to all intelli- 
gent minds to be true. Then, as now, a 
spirit entity, before entrance into form, 
possessed freedom of will to select its own 
relations during its residence upon the physi- 
cal plane. The chief purpose in seeking such 
experiences was that it might correct previous 
errors and accomplish complete preparation 

[31] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

for diviner states of existence — and finally 
enter into those realms of superior opportuni- 
ties wherein wisdom obtains, limitations cease, 
and an endless chain of deific influences 
enables spirit to realize higher correspondences. 
This world may be compared to a canvas 
from which is reflected certain purposes or 
infinite designs. What appear to us indefinite 
is clearly perceived by advanced intelligences 
as expressions or modes of absolute law and 
order. Spiritual laws have, in these later 
ages of advancing civilization, been more 
definitely realized in the consciousness of 
man than in previous periods, and as results 
thereof some have imperceptibly grown into 
the likeness of those celestial beings who per- 
fectly perceive the divine symphony manifested 
in the cosmic universe. He who has escaped 
the Karmas created through material occupa- 
tions and desires, and has experienced a real 
spiritual transformation, may truly proclaim 
"in the image of God created He him." And 
the possession of this image in the conscious- 
ness of man is justly desired, for it is his badge 
of sovereignty, the evidence of his divine son- 

[32] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

ship, more perfect and permanent than any 
title deeds to lands and houses, which are but 
copies in idea, counterparts, which only illus- 
trate in a material way the infinite spiritual 
wealth and power. 



[33] 



Ill 

" And God saw everything that he had made, and, 
behold, it was very good." — Genesis 1 : 31. 

It is written that God saw everything that 
He had made, and all was good. The Infinite, 
through the Law, had expressed His purpose 
in objective manifestations, and the results 
were perfect. Order, the first principle of 
Law, had succeeded conditions of chaos. 
Land had appeared — indicating permanence 
and stability. An animal kingdom, the flora 
of the earth, the herb and tree each bearing 
seed after its kind, had responded to the im- 
pulse of Spirit, so related as to require no 
more than reference here, all natural evolu- 
tions accomplished in the eons of cycles pre- 
ceding the advent of physical man. 

But most important, man now impercepti- 
bly began to perceive necessity that he should 
progress from his low intellectual and spiritual 

[34] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

condition, in order to secure higher and more 
perfect correspondences, necessary for the ac- 
complishment of his divine destiny. In fur- 
therance of that purpose, cooperating with 
those in celestial states, in this cycle of time, 
he materialized a physical form, which in per- 
fect adaptability to needs has proved the marvel 
of time. 

These and many other important results 
were achieved, the sum of all which was good. 
Since that remote period, the increase of spirit- 
ual wisdom has enabled intelligent persons to 
perceive that every manifestation of the Law 
has always been perfect, and, as a corollary, 
good. 

When the sixth day or period of realization 
dawned, the divine human consciousness, the 
Infinite Principle, implanted in man assumed 
its rightful control of the physical brain, and 
became the dominant, intelligent principle, 
through the leadings of which he has since 
asserted spiritual supremacy and physical con- 
trol over the lower orders of life, and com- 
pelled them to serve in such employments as 

have advanced his material interests. He, 

[35] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

endowed with great superiorities, has since 
become the architect of forms, the only self- 
conscious being upon earth. 

Using the physical body as its instrument, 
he has already discovered many laws of 
chemistry and methods for their demonstra- 
tion. It is reasonable to assume that the 
earth's spiritually great and wise ones will 
continue to expound truth, upon planes 
of human understanding, according to the 
needs of less advanced humanity, thereby 
aiding its upward progress, and practically 
demonstrating the fact that spiritual con- 
sciousness is the ruling principle in all stages 
of human progress, and the only intelligent 
force upon this earth, as it has ever been recog- 
nized in exalted spheres of illumination. 

The divine self-consciousness and the will, 
its counterpart, have always been and must 
continue to be the controlling principle in all 
struggles and conflicts of humanity for the 
attainment of better conditions, and will doubt- 
less, in the future more perfectly than now, con- 
trol the physical brain, and through it, the 
material body, using both as instruments for 

[36] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

fuller and freer expression of the divine intui- 
tions. When more perfect conditions have 
been established, advanced intelligences may 
more freely than now communicate with those 
incarnated in physical forms, and teach them 
the wisdom they have acquired concerning the 
Infinite Spirit. 

Previous to the sixth day or period of light, 
many forces afterwards objectively manifested 
were apparently latent or inoperative, but 
upon its advent the purpose in creation was 
more fully revealed, for then, in a partial way, 
man began to perceive that the mandates 
of the Law were absolute and enforced by ce- 
lestial agents who had attained great wis- 
dom, having realized much divine prescience. 
From that period the illuminati have faith- 
fully administered the trust reposed in them, 
serving as vicegerents and executive agents 
of the Law, revealing unto wise and thought- 
ful persons their accumulated thesaurus of 
wisdom, limited only by man's inability to 
fully comprehend that which they are ever 
ready to impart. 

[37] 



IV 

"And the evening and the morning were the 
sixth day." — Genesis 1 : 31. 

All creative periods have been mornings 
of light preceded by evenings of darkness. 
The Infinite Spirit, in connection with His 
numberless other perfections, is Wisdom itself, 
and through the ordainment of a Perfect Law 
in the beginning, prescribed the uses and 
fixed the boundaries of all the forces of na- 
ture, defined the needful conditions of physical 
life and means for prolonging it, made possible 
the realization of spiritual and physical prog- 
ress and well being, and so ordained the uni- 
versal order that every law of nature may 
be discovered by spirit while in physical 
expression. 

After the sixth period an opportunity was 
afforded man to more definitely realize, than 
possible before the taking on of material form, 

[38] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

his relations to physical laws governing the 
earth, for he then came into closer contact 
with nature and might from her acquire 
much useful wisdom. In a very limited and 
crude way, at first, he began to question her, 
and sought to discover his material relations 
to objective environments. The impulse in 
this direction has ever been strong, and may 
be in part accounted for when we say that the 
best representatives of his type had, in previ- 
ous states, upon other planets, made some prog- 
ress in cognate relations, and upon reentrance 
into physical life again responded to those 
impulses of spirit which previously prevailed. 
Though memory reverted not, intuition led 
on. The crowning demonstration of the Law's 
perfection was illustrated in the sixth cycle. 
There were also numberless other manifesta- 
tions of the Law occurring in apparently 
quick succession during that period, and so 
expressed in objective phenomena as to ex- 
cite the wonder and investigation of succeed- 
ing generations of students of physical science ; 
but no event upon any plane of thought or 
imagination equals the greatest of all revela- 

[39] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

tions of divine foreconception of human 
necessity, the materialization of the physical 
form through the cooperation of illumined 
intelligences made subject to the control of 
the spirit within. 

God had previously said, " Let there be light : 
and there was light. " Now, however, as in 
the beginning ordained, the period had com- 
menced when through gradual but progres- 
sive discovery of the principles inherent of the 
Law, all clouds of darkness concealing the 
light from the understanding of man might 
be dissipated, and every night followed by a 
morning of realization of progress in discov- 
ery of the divine order. 

All was in readiness for the crowning mani- 
festation of the Perfect Wisdom. 

Let man rejoice, the reverberations of his 
song be repeated in the heavens, and pro- 
longed through the infinities of space, for 
conditions are prepared for the realization of 
that divine self-consciousness, which will en- 
able him to perceive final realization of all the 
beatitudes of celestial life. It was he that 
should discover that the Law describes the 

[40] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

circle of this planet, and defines the conditions 
of the earth's existence, surrounded as it is by 
numberless other worlds, which during eons of 
existence have revolved in their appropriate 
spheres, without so much as a fraction of time 
in variation, for the Infinite Spirit in the begin- 
ning so defined the universal expression. Who 
can or should stay man's progress? Nothing 
imperfect can ever issue from a reservoir of ab- 
solute truth and wisdom. A knowledge of the 
Law will make man wise, enable him to attain 
harmonial correspondences with those who 
are indeed free. We can now see how much 
of it he has been able so far to comprehend, 
and may judge the future by the past. He 
has not yet learned its principles in complete- 
ness, though he now insensibly feels that there 
are divine possibilities awaiting future realiza- 
tion. While that is essentially true, he has yet 
to learn that there are many conditions to be 
fulfilled when one aspires for highest honors, 
much more to be accomplished than has yet 
been perceived as necessary. There is a fixed 
system of rewards and penalties relating man 

to two states of existence, — the physical 

[41] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

and spiritual, — indicating that he is a far 
more complex being than would at first ap- 
pear, and that he but partially knows himself. 
The resulting, visible world of effects was 
most wisely made the reflex of another, where 
far more delicate conditions prevail, for the 
government of which an invisible, intangible, 
yet an all-powerful system or series of sys- 
tems of laws, beyond the limited conception 
of man in his first or present estate, have been 
provided. Not all now, but in due time, will 
be revealed in the awakened consciousness 
more and more concerning the next state of 
existence and his relations to it. He will in 
the providence of things learn that there is 
neither first, second, nor sixth day in spirit 
voyages of discovery, and that time has been 
completely eliminated. 

Many other provisions of the Law not need- 
ful to know, in man's first or present con- 
ditions of life, will doubtless be discovered 
after he has attained the wisdom to apply 
the benefits derivable therefrom for spiritual 
progress. 

This earth, at the sixth period, when man 
[42] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

first materialized upon it as a physical entity, 
doubtless appeared to him a blissful place of 
abode, though he knew not its laws or his 
relations thereto. It was, however, his destiny 
to learn much, and after graduation go for- 
ward, prepared for the enjoyments of the 
higher life. As under the Law there are spirit- 
ual as well as physical relations, necessity was 
laid upon him to realize truth, love, and beauty, 
in order to evolve that state of harmony 
wherein one receives foregleams of celestial 
beatitudes such as are enjoyed by those who 
have discovered much relating to the Divine 
Principle, and have as a sequel thereof realized 
many illuminations of spirit. 

" Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, 
and all the host of them." — Genesis 2 : 1. 

The Infinite Spirit had expressed through 
the Law the divine foreconception all in har- 
monious manifestation. A physical world had 
been evolved, — a world of objectivities, gov- 
erned by a perfect Law, — and there had been 
established a series of relations in respect of 
it, so that all objective creations were visible 

[43] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

to the sight of man, and the purposes of their 
creation concealed from him only by the lim- 
ited control of his own spirit over the physi- 
cal brain ; its instrument for the expression 
of thought. 

Through occult laws, man soon learned to 
discern colors and different sounds, in fact, 
developed ability to perceive the relation to 
each other of many physical manifestations. 
Only he could or would ever attempt to dis- 
cover and adapt to useful ends material 
objects in infinity of combination. Through 
his aspirations for the perfect light, the mighty 
possibilities of spirit within would be real- 
ized. In that sixth period, so far as needs 
of primitive man were then concerned, the 
heavens and the earth were finished, and he 
so organized that his desires would increase 
in ratio of his discovery of the means to grat- 
ify them. He then went forth to prove the 
divinity of his own origin. His uncreate 
spirit, in cooperation with celestial intelli- 
gences, had, under the Law, defined a physi- 
cal body or vehicle for the outworking of 
destiny/ but from the beginning it had been 

[44] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

ordained that it should not be the spirit's per- 
manent abiding place, and in harmony with 
that purpose it was molded from changeable 
elements, and so organized that if he obeyed 
the laws governing it, peaceful relations would 
be maintained between it and the spirit within, 
and his physical capacity for useful labors 
increased. Therefore the study of laws per- 
taining to spiritual and physical relations is of 
first importance, in order that the visible body 
may continue to furnish a suitable habita- 
tion for the invisible spirit, and that the 
many opportunities for material and spiritual 
progress offered while upon the earth may be 
realized. 

That the physical form inhabited by the 
spirit should be subjected to its control, and 
that health should be the reward of obedi- 
ence to it, was then and now true. Where 
opportunities for one to learn the meaning 
of, and his relations to, such laws had for any 
reason been denied in one incarnation, another 
and possibly many other returns to earth 
were, upon the desire of applicants, made 
possible. Nature has ever been lavish in her 

[45] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

bestowal of opportunities for progressive un- 
derstanding of both her physical and spiritual 
principles. 

As man has willed to learn of the cosmic 
order, so have opportunities been afforded 
for him to profit by his efforts and to 
realize diviner states of illumination. It is 
therefore evident, that, when it was announced 
that the heavens and the earth were finished, 
a reference was intended to the giving of the 
Law, and the creation of unlimited opportu- 
nities for man under it. 

All needful preliminary conditions for the 
complete realization of the spirit's final des- 
tiny were thus established. Freedom of the 
will and the possibility of realizing the divine 
self-consciousness were his prerogatives. 

The earth was, indeed, in that sense, fin- 
ished. It remained only for the inheritors of 
the divine gifts to prove themselves worthy 
sons of the Light, by thereafter continuing 
the struggle for the goal of absolute perfection. 



[46] 



" And on the seventh day God ended his work 
which he had made; and he rested on the seventh 
day from all his work which he had made." 

— Genesis 2: 2. 

Phenomenal creations may be said to 
have passed their meridian in the sixth cycle. 
It was in this period that the spirit man, 
aided by advanced intelligences of the spirit 
world, materialized physical form for inhabi- 
tation, while outworking destiny upon earth, 
which form included, as its most important 
possession, that marvel of delicate mechan- 
ism, — the physical brain, at first only re- 
sponsive to exoteric impressions, but since 
developed and employed by the spirit for the 
expression of its complex intuitions. Through 
its wise use man has realized superior alert- 
ness, and now directs the more intelligent 
portions of the lower orders in the promotion 

of his material interests. Many centuries sub- 

[47] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

sequent to the first materialization of form, 
after the spirit had acquired for the expres- 
sion of thought a larger control over the or- 
ganic brain than was at first possible, man 
began to make important discoveries in the 
realms of natural law, creating more favorable 
conditions of physical existence, and establish- 
ing many useful industries. In the commence- 
ment of his earth life his physical sustenance 
was provided for by the constant productions 
of the earth; but notwithstanding such wise 
arrangements, he then perceived not his 
obligations and relations to the Law, nor 
could he have realized its perfection had it 
been proclaimed from the higher realms of 
wisdom. Considering what has been accom- 
plished in the various fields of human effort, 
one might infer that the Law, as originally 
ordained, possessed an independent automatic 
manifesting principle, through the operation 
of which man must needs, in due season, 
discover its secrets, and that he would as the 
result of such discoveries perceive the limita- 
tions of his own spiritual correspondences with 
its Author. Whenever and wherever his dor- 

[48] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

mant perceptive faculties have been awakened, 
so as to comprehend its beneficent purposes 
and effectual operation in the realms of nature, 
a more perfect consciousness of its perfection 
has been realized. 

Since the sixth cycle, when man first ac- 
quired physical form and entered into the 
field of material affairs, he has, in a certain 
apparent sense, sustained a special relation to 
the Law, and has been greatly benefited by 
obeying those provisions of it which relate to 
his physical needs and enjoyments. In later 
periods, he has, to much advantage, applied 
for personal benefit its occult principles, in- 
herent from the beginning, but the importance 
of which he has only slowly learned through 
the experiences of life. His material form 
was created subject to physical laws, and 
when disobedient thereto, he has suffered 
many discords. Through such suffering he 
has realized some of the possibilities of his 
many and complex attributes, gradually per- 
ceiving the necessity that he should more fully 
understand his relation to every law governing 
the planet upon which he is the most important 

[49] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

factor and the arbiter of the destiny of the 
lower orders. Subject to the impersonal Law 
and impelled by his own intuitions, he now 
aspires to create and direct the course of 
material affairs, and henceforth may logically, 
in ratio of his realization of the divine prin- 
ciple within, hope for increase of dominion. 
The Law with its infinite realities continues, 
and from the fact that all its provisions are 
perfect, must remain unto his finite perception 
a gradual, constant revelation of wisdom. One 
naturally inquires what means in the beginning 
were provided for its enforcement, for it was 
not a living entity possessing intuitional fac- 
ulties capable of inspiring others, nor did it 
in an easily comprehended language intelli- 
gently express the meaning and object of its 
existence. Man only could spiritually dis- 
cern relations to it and discover its purpose 
and benefits. In his rudimentary state he 
did not perceive its existence, nor understand 
its mode of action. Wisdom, required for the 
proper understanding of its perfect principles, 
was then possessed only by beings in states 

of illumined existence, those who had passed 

[50] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

beyond the necessity of further experiences 
in material states. Let us endeavor, by the 
light since that period evolved from human 
consciousness, to obtain a glimpse of the 
original provisions made for its execution. 



[51] 



VI 

" And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the 
ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of 
life; and man became a living soul." 

— Genesis 2: 7. 

It had previously been said, "Let us make 
man in our image, after our likeness/ ' which 
will be readily perceived as having great spirit- 
ual significance, though it may not be assumed 
from the declaration that an image after the 
likeness of the Infinite involved the possession 
of either a physical counterpart or the wisdom 
of the Infinite. There was, after the begin- 
ning of manifestations of the Law, an influx 
of a vast number of spiritual beings, many of 
whom possessed only limited powers of reason, 
yet in some respects allied unto those attri- 
butes we are wont to ascribe to more advanced 
intelligences; but such gifts, however spiritual 
their nature, could not be applied to useful 
ends before the possessors thereof obtained 

[52] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

material forms and control of physical brains 
for the expression of ideas. Though man in 
all the different stages of his advancement had 
forever been spirit, the masses which came 
hither were only very limited reflectors of 
the Infinite Spirit. They comprehended not 
that there was a boundless reservoir of wis- 
dom, drawing from which, under a Perfect 
Law, they might subsequently evolve as great 
souls, and attain wonderful progress after con- 
ditions of existence had become more favor- 
able for material and spiritual research. The 
first duty resting upon them was the creation 
of right physical conditions for a proper in- 
vestigation of the numerous manifestations of 
nature, which, correctly understood, would en- 
able them more clearly to perceive the Infinite 
design manifested in creation. It was in the 
beginning possible, and within the scope of 
natural law, that certain ones would perceive 
great benefits to be derived from the oppor- 
tunities of a new world, and would apply 
them to material use and advantage. Neces- 
sity for conditions needful for investigation of 
spiritual truths became more apparent after 

[53] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

man had increased in understanding, for then 
he began to consider his relations to other 
states of existence, where he might possibly 
realize higher and better conditions of life in 
conjunction with advanced intelligence. It was 
in the natural order of growth and manifesta- 
tion that some should become leaders, teachers, 
and guides unto others, who were seeking the 
light which the truth confers, and that such 
teachers should attain to states of considerable 
illumination while upon earth, and, finally, in 
celestial states, become vicegerents and execu- 
tors of the Law itself. 

The extent of the field of knowledge was not 
then, nor has it since been, revealed in its entire 
fullness, though there has been a constantly 
increasing realization of its unlimited per- 
spective. Man, however, has always intui- 
tively perceived that each step upward involved 
new responsibilities, opened new vistas, and 
made possible clearer individual conceptions 
of the objects and purposes of the unending 
life. The more advanced intelligences in the 
celestial spheres have, from the beginning, 
according to their illuminations, attained to 

[54] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

an ever increasing control over numerous laws 
governing the material conditions of the earth. 
There now appears to be good grounds for 
the statement that the manifestation of laws 
governing the earth have, from the beginning, 
been under executive direction of those who 
have attained to advanced correspondences, 
and that exalted powers are now possessed 
by certain ones, once denizens of this world. 
The attainment of great illumination enables 
the spirit to exercise functions incomprehen- 
sible to mortals. If the human mind, which 
only imperfectly reflects the spirit, can invent 
the complex machinery of a watch, should not 
the spirit in celestial conditions, with its pos- 
sibilities, finally attain to the control and 
understanding of the laws governing a planet ? 
When viewed in the light of what has already 
been discovered by man and applied to prac- 
tical uses upon this plane of being, our esti- 
mate of his capacity for the realization of 
celestial wisdom is not unreasonable. When 
we consider the wisdom that some persons 
now upon the earth have acquired, and the 
influences for good which they exert against 

[55] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

opposing forces, and that they have succeeded 
in establishing states of personal freedom that 
permit others to greatly enlarge the field of 
material discoveries, so that in the future use- 
ful knowledge may be the common inheritance 
of all, and employed in further conquests, we 
should not doubt man's final triumph over all 
obstacles. In last analysis it will be found 
that, practically, there is no limit to spiritual 
conquests in all fields of discovery, and that it 
is really a demonstrable truth that as the spirit 
aspires, so does it inspire, and that it will con- 
tinue through the endless eons of centuries to 
progress and explore those boundless fields of 
wisdom which the Infinite Spirit has made 
possible through an understanding of His 
Law. Then in a spiritual sense, from the 
dust, signifying the lower manifestations, God 
will be seen to have breathed into man the 
breath of life, and that he is, indeed, allied 
by correspondence to all reality, a living soul 
in the fullest sense of that term. 



[56] 



VII 

"And the Lord God planted a garden eastward 
in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had 
formed." — Genesis 2 : 8. 

There have been for many centuries ever 
recurring controversies as to the geographical 
location of Eden, but it has been reserved for 
those endowed with spiritual perception to dis- 
cover its real place and the mystical truth 
involved in the allegory. 

To an inconsiderate reader the location would 
appear of no special importance, for such an one 
would say it never had any existence, except 
in the imagination of man. 

Why should it concern us whether it was 
eastward, westward, or any other point of the 
compass? So reason the thoughtless. If the 
matter is to be judged with respect of its geo- 
graphical location, such conclusions are correct, 
but there is a spiritual significance in the 

[57] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

allegory, important ideas suggested in the story 
of the garden of Eden. 

The efforts of man in the cultivation of the 
earth have always been best rewarded when 
he has bestowed upon it loving labor, and 
returned to it those chemical elements re- 
quired for the maintenance of its fertility — 
thereby causing it to produce the food supplies 
required by its inhabitants and many other 
objects of beauty and utility. The more satis- 
factory results have been realized in the garden 
— for there utility, beauty, and human needs 
have all been conserved. 

There, also, man has labored without per- 
ceiving whither his efforts were leading, un- 
consciously reproducing an actual imitation of 
our allegorical prototype. Through such labors 
he has been slowly developing in others a love 
of the order and beauty manifested in nature, 
which in the beginning appealed to his primi- 
tive consciousness. This verse is also valu- 
able as indicating the direction of the first 
home of some of the early inhabitants of earth. 
It also suggests metaphysical reasons why it 
should have been fixed in the eastern section 

[58] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

of the globe, where the sun's first rays light 
the earth, and where also the light of human 
self-consciousness was first awakened in the 
heart of man, though it must not be inferred 
that in the earliest stages of existence upon 
the earth he dwelt only in that section, for 
there is much evidence to the contrary, and 
many celestial intelligences, in position to know 
the facts, are in accord with statements else- 
where recorded in this work. 

Migrations in the beginning were not un- 
common; and the usual course was toward 
the south, but many centuries later other 
settlements were made in the northern and 
western sections of the eastern hemisphere. 

The first conquests in the north and west 
were won by the eastern tribes in physical 
combat against other tribes of equally warlike 
propensities, who, as spirit immigrants, origi- 
nally came from the planet Moon and, after in- 
carnation, settled in the frigid zones, where, 
during many cycles, but little progress was 
made, and but few if any positive traits of 
character developed, if we except such as per- 
tain to physical courage. 

[59] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

The early combats between the southern and 
northern races were mostly trials of strength, 
in a certain sense like unto the opposing forces 
of intelligence and ignorance that have since 
marked the course of human progress. 

The results of all struggles between men have 
been to lead those engaged therein to some- 
what clearer appreciation of the happiness 
possible of attainment when the true Eden 
shall have been realized in the consciousness 
of mankind, of which the one in the east was 
but an image, an indistinctly outlined picture, 
a fading vision. 

And this is the deducible spiritual significance 
and lesson of the narrative, — for conscious- 
ness is the perception of good and evil, which 
in practice produce very different sorts of fruit, 
in the selection of which one may secure great 
rewards or suffer the penalties of error, and 
through many hard experiences learn the cer- 
tainty, the majesty, and the divine justice of 
the universal Law, whose mandates no one 
may safely disregard. 

Whether the results of conduct were bitter 
or beneficial then, as now, depended upon the 

[60] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

wisdom exercised in the conduct of life. The 
ignorant suffered and the wise realized good, 
and the history of the human race from the 
beginning until the present hour has con- 
tinuously shown this principle of the unchange- 
able law to be constantly operative. 



[61] 



VIII 

" But of the tree of the knowledge of good and 
evil, thou shalt not eat of it : for in the day that 
thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." 

— Genesis 2: 17. 

Every manifestation of the Law was per- 
fect. Every material object reflected in greater 
or less ratio the spiritual principle, and served 
a purpose either of beauty or usefulness. As 
the creation of the earth itself had involved a 
limitation of expression of the Principle here- 
tofore referred to, so also, in like manner, a 
certain restraint, through inability to control 
the physical brain, was placed upon the will 
and consciousness of man. He was at this 
point in his career in a world of forms, sub- 
ject, it is true, to an unchanging law, perfect 
in operation and results, which he as yet little 
understood, a law apparently administered with- 
out rule or order. He did not comprehend that 
he held relations of responsibility to it, nor did 

[62] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

he perceive the fact that he would suffer 
penalties should he act in disobedience to its 
unwritten requirements. In reality, he had 
arrived at no clear conception of its existence. 
That he might learn certain necessary prelimi- 
nary facts in relation to his personal responsi- 
bilities, — his own subjective and objective 
relations to the Law, — an important revela- 
tion was then made unto him. He perceived 
in consciousness the existence of a spiritual 
principle henceforth to be the infallible guide, 
whose heeded monitions would enable him to 
realize spiritual harmony like unto that pre- 
vailing where truth and perfection abide, and 
furthermore, that he might sometime attain 
heights where the spirit would independently 
perceive and respond to celestial influences, 
and advance to correspondence with that 
universal or continuous state of harmony 
which obtains in spheres of perfect illumination. 
The spiritual perception, or consciousness, a 
latent possession from the beginning, soon, like 
a small spark of electrical brilliancy flashing in 
a world of surrounding darkness, became an 

important factor in both spiritual and material 

[63] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

affairs of man, infinitely superior in its potency 
to other attributes of mind which had previ- 
ously served his apparent needs ; but by the 
leadings of which he had developed only a very 
limited sphere of intelligent usefulness. There 
had been up to that time no opportunity for 
him to learn much concerning spiritual laws, 
but upon the advent of greater responsibilities 
following the realization of spiritual insight, 
many new problems of life appeared. He 
began to desire as physical necessities things 
not previously striven after, and also to 
experience certain spiritual foregleams which 
seemed to relate himself to those in superior 
states of being, though he did not for many 
centuries thereafter fully realize the all pleni- 
tude of powers pertaining to the divine self- 
consciousness. 

Previously he had existed in a state of 
essential darkness or ignorance of the Law, 
and therefore did not foresee how the di- 
vinity of his own soul would or could ever 
manifest itself; he was not cognizant of the 
spirit's latent possibilities. The lower instincts 

of his animal nature had served the purposes 

[64] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

of life conditions. He had gone forth to 
battle, to capture and torture, without the 
least compunction or consciousness that there 
were any rights of others to be respected, 
— that possibly there might be a principle of 
injustice involved in his deeds. Such ques- 
tions naturally would not arise in the mind 
of one devoid of a developed self-consciousness. 

All of his acts up to that hour, a very event- 
ful period of human history, had been per- 
formed under the direction of an irresponsible, 
uncontrolled impulse. Now, however, an un- 
create attribute of the Essence — the divine 
self-consciousness — was about to reveal its 
presence and to forevermore assert its potency, 
never to resign authority in moral conduct, 
nor compound with the errors of mortal 
mind nor with the solecisms of esoteric 
vagaries. 

At all times, and under whatever tempta- 
tions, like as a fixed star guides the mariner 
on his way, it was to be the beacon light lead- 
ing into all true and clear visions of rightful 
action. 

But before man could assume such regal 
[65] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

authority, he had first to overcome certain 
apparent limitations in spiritual expression. It 
had been wisely decreed in the beginning that 
control or execution of the most important 
functions of the Law should only be exercised 
by those who had attained sufficient illumina- 
tion to enforce its unwritten requirements. 
While the Law provided that when its man- 
dates were obeyed abundant rewards would be 
realized, it also included a condition that he 
who acted in disobedience to its requirements 
must learn compliance through suffering. But 
such righteous visitations of judgment were 
not left to the untutored and unreasoning 
capacities of humanity's earliest representa- 
tives, — those who had not attained a spiritual 
supremacy over the self. 

Therefore we read "but of the tree of the 
knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat 
of it : for in the day that thou eatest thereof 
thou shalt surely die," equivalent to saying that 
when man ceases to do right, to walk uprightly, 
and to respect truth and justice, according to 
the light revealed in his consciousness — and 
presumes to exercise functions of spirit not 

[66] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

yet within spiritually acquired control, to eat 
as it were the fruit reserved for those who 
have attained understanding of spiritual laws, — 
he will incur suffering, and not being in harmo- 
nial relations to the Law, will become sub- 
ject to those provisions of it which relate to 
birth, growth, physical death, and rebirth. 
Disobedience, ignorance, and presumption 
would thus retard a continuously progressive 
life, requiring many incarnations before the 
attainment of that perfect mastery of the self 
which enables one to inhabit spheres of superior 
wisdom, in which the divine self-consciousness 
supremely realizes unity with the Infinite 
Spirit. In substance, let us so interpret the 
spiritual meaning of the record, and as we study 
man's subsequent career and perceive in how 
limited a way he has profited by his opportuni- 
ties, we may perceive a very perfect reason 
why he still suffers penalties and why so many 
obstacles of his own creation have prevented 
him from entering that Eden planted in the 
east, the symbol of perfect peace realized 
through the attainment of spiritual harmony. 

[67] 



IX 

" And the Lord God said, It is not good that the 
man should be alone ; I will make him an help meet 
for him." — Genesis 2: 18. 

After the spirit had realized a measurable 
control of the physical brain, man began to 
assume his rightful sovereignty over the ma- 
terial affairs of the earth, and through the 
exercise of his superior attributes carried to 
successful issue many important designs, to 
blaze, as it were, a trail in the world's wil- 
derness, to change the face of nature in 
adaptation to human needs, to put in form 
intellectual conceptions which at first though 
indicative of a low order of development, did 
reflect certain limited ideas of beauty and 
utility. 

From plastic elements he constructed crudely 
designed instruments for personal use and 
defense, which, unlike any natural produc- 
tions of the earth, proved in a certain sense 

[68] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

attractive and serviceable for the purpose 
designed, showing abilities above the lower 
orders of animal life by which he was sur- 
rounded. To the products of skill he gave 
names, some of which after many transfor- 
mations are still retained in the terminology 
of certain Oriental languages, and are indica- 
tive of use or beauty, and refer one to that 
early period. Possessing inherent spiritual 
attributes, in principle like unto those as- 
scribed to the Infinite Spirit, he was by virtue 
thereof the only being qualified to exert con- 
trol in the animal kingdom and to assign to 
such portions of it as were amenable to instruc- 
tion their proper spheres of usefulness in the 
future development of the economic affairs 
of the earth. 

He did not in the first stages of his physi- 
cal existence perceive that unrevealed in his 
nature were many subjective spiritual powers, 
through the realization of which he might 
attain celestial correspondences, for he was 
then obliged chiefly to exercise the objective 
mind in defense of personal security, and in 
providing for physical needs of the body. 

[69] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

In subsequent ages, though bound to physical 
labor in order to procure subsistence, he has 
slowly, unconsciously, accomplished the prin- 
cipal objects for which he incarnated upon 
this untried theater of action, where, under 
new conditions, he was compelled to use and 
develop his natural intellectual resources in 
order to discover nature's laws manifested, 
in most respects, like those laws operative 
in the planet from which he came, but which, 
for the specific and perfect reason that he had 
not attained the higher correspondences of 
reason and intuition, were not revealed unto 
him, except on some special occasion when 
some particular phenomenon awakened his 
dormant reason. 

At the commencement of his new career 
he represented only the positive pole of the 
magnetic influence. Nor did he for many 
centuries realize any intelligent conception 
concerning the nature, influence, and office 
of the electrical forces of the universe, nor 
was he aware there was an important, neces- 
sary, negative, subjective side of life, a knowl- 
edge of which must be attained before he 

[70] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

could assume enlarged responsibilities. He 
did not perceive that present conditions in 
any manner related to or typified a future 
state of happiness which he might thereafter 
realize. At this period he had shown no 
spiritual correspondence to the beautiful and 
harmonious rhythms of nature permeat- 
ing space, which in manifestation were syn- 
onymously related to spiritual vibrations, 
concerning which we may say very little is 
known even in our own age, and that little 
often very inaccurately defined. He had re- 
ceived no foregleams of a final apotheosis, 
since partially realized and transmitted as 
inspirations of certain distinguished poets 
and philosophers. 

No earthly companion, guide, or teacher 
had yet appeared — but she who would be 
in many respects more perfectly endowed 
than himself, created a subjective spiritual 
being, susceptible to higher, more sublimated 
and delicate celestial vibrations than himself, 
was, under the Law, and in the order of its mani- 
festation, now about to incarnate. Through 
her, he would in the eons of time be redeemed. 

[71] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

She, more perfectly reflecting the spirit, 
would, by appealing to his better nature, arouse 
his latent, spiritual capacities, and teach him 
to aspire for and realize better correspon- 
dences, and finally lead him out of bondage 
to the physical senses into conditions of free- 
dom and peace . Such, in part, appears to 
have been the divine purpose of her creation 
and her special relation to him in the cosmic 
order. She has already taught him how to 
understand and appreciate the significance of 
many spiritual laws, and has aided him in 
the realization upon earth of some interior 
states and relations closely approximating 
those which obtain in advanced zones. She 
will doubtless continue to lighten his burdens 
and to aid his release from bondage to an 
otherwise longer period of expiation and suf- 
fering. 

Man at this early period very imperfectly, 
if in any manner, foresaw for his race future 
conditions upon earth wherein social, politi- 
cal, and monetary relations would influence 
its life and activities. In the Perfect Law, 
however, all future requirements and neces- 

[72] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

sities of man were so wisely provided for that 
his evolution to higher planes of intellectual 
and spiritual thought have already been par- 
tially realized through the instrumentality 
of woman. This result has been chiefly at- 
tained through her spiritual activities. In 
the beginning there was called into manifes- 
tation two antithetical forces, both necessary 
in the universal order, for equally upon each 
depended the continued existence of the 
earth itself, and the possible maintenance of 
physical life by self-conscious beings. 

The positive, active, magnetic force or 
principle was first definitely expressed by 
man, but the full scope of his own possibili- 
ties was not realized except in conjunction 
with the electrical elements more perfectly 
expressed through his subjective counter- 
part. 

As the Eternal Essence, or Principle, had 
already through the Law defined sex in ani- 
mals and in the vegetable and mineral king- 
dom, it was in the natural order of continu- 
ous manifestation that man also should have 
a complement, — companion and assistant, — 

[73] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

and that she should be a more perfect spirit- 
ual representative upon earth than as yet 
he had proved himself to be, and that she 
should try to teach him how to reflect the 
glory, honor, and wisdom of the Infinite Over- 
soul. And such, indeed, has been her mission. 
Through the aid of that companion he has 
already attained to enlarged spheres of influ- 
ence and wisdom, and has realized spiritual 
powers allied in principle, though not in per- 
fect relation, to those possessed by celestial 
intelligences in the higher states of existence. 
Such were original possibilities of attainment, 
all within the scope of his inherent capacities 
of soul 

Through her he was also to receive fore- 
gleams of the transcendently beautiful condi- 
tions of an unending life, and be led to aspire 
for the attainment of celestial beatitudes. 

She incarnated upon earth in a more deli- 
cate physical form than that of his own, 
better adapted for spiritual expression, and 
therefore it is not inaptly said that she re- 
ceived it from that portion of his anatomy 
which guarded the most vital organs from 

[74] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

the ordinary exposures and mishaps of the 
earth life. She was made flesh and bone like 
unto himself, as that had been the manifesta- 
tion of the Law in all the lower orders upon 
the earth and in other planets; but as she 
was a self-conscious entity, it was decreed that 
she should never be permanently limited in 
her progress by any material environments. 
She has already proved herself, as first or- 
dained, the necessary companion and spirit- 
ual guide, reflecting more correctly than 
man the lofty ideals and intuitions of the 
divine nature. Her mission will never cease, 
nor her spiritual intuitions fail of effectual 
use, until sin, error, and disease shall have 
been completely destroyed, and he, for whom 
she has for so many centuries toiled, and often 
suffered physical death, shall have been so 
far redeemed as to perceive the supreme im- 
portance of the issues of life, and upon lines 
of her example shall have attained the goal 
of perfection. 



[75] 



X 

" But the fruit of the tree which is in the midst 
of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, 
neither shall ye touch it, least ye die." — Genesis 3 : 3. 

"For God doth know that in the day ye eat 
thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall 
be as gods, knowing good and evil." — Ibid. 3 : 5. 

In the third verse of this allegory, the pen- 
alty for disobedience to a command is death, 
and in the fifth verse it is said in substance 
that man's eyes shall be opened and that he 
shall become as a god, knowing good and evil. 
From the beginning, physical death has fur- 
nished opportunity for spirit to realize wis- 
dom. It has proved a greater boon even 
than spiritual introspection. 

The life of man immediately before the 
advent of woman may be described as one of 
native simplicity, in environments with which 
he was not wholly satisfied. Be this true or 
otherwise, it is related in this allegory that 

[76] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

there was issued after her assumption of phys- 
ical form a command, for the violation of 
which the penalty of death was affixed, though 
evidently the god therein referred to does not 
mean the Impersonal, Omnipresent, and Omni- 
conscious Spirit who is without and above 
all physical limitations. Other experiences 
are also named : that his eyes should be 
opened, and that he should become as a god, 
knowing good and evil. One of the benefits 
subsequently realized from having his eyes 
opened was the capacity to perceive the differ- 
entiations of consciousness which separated 
himself from the various orders of the animal 
kingdom. It is probable, however, that he 
did not then foresee that in subsequent ages 
his race would realize certain correspondences 
to the Infinite Principle, and that such reali- 
zations would have evidential value in estab- 
lishing the fact of his independent, distinct, 
and separate individuality and origin. He 
was to prove himself capable of great develop- 
ment of reason, the possessor of intuition, 
conscience, and numerous other inherent at- 
tributes of spirit indicative of latent superi- 

[77] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

orities, qualities not possessed by any other 
living creature upon the earth. After an act 
of disobedience it appears that some of his 
infinite possibilities were revealed unto him. 
The allegory conveys the impression that dis- 
obedience does sometimes teach one wisdom. 
That period of his history dates his en- 
trance as an important factor in the realms 
of reason, and the commencement of his 
realization of capacity to perceive his own 
separateness from the world of animal life 
by which he was surrounded. It is very 
doubtful whether he at first foreknew that his 
race would ever realize capacity to discover 
and define the Law which in the beginning 
was ordained for the government of the earth, 
or that he would ever fully comprehend his 
material and spiritual opportunities and re- 
lations to it. He could not in the beginning 
have recognized the scope, significance, or 
perfection of its unchanging principles, nor 
have known that the Law was perfect and 
therefore contained all necessary principles 
for guidance, as the spirit within man had not 
then acquired adequate control of the physi- 

[78] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

cal brain to comprehend or express ideas 
which pertained to the higher planes of rea- 
son. Such control has, however, since that 
period been slowly but consciously realized, 
and through various evolutions the most 
advanced representatives of humanity have 
developed capacity to intelligently interpret 
many of nature's physical secrets. Man has, 
moreover, under special conditions, and at 
certain times, realized important spiritual 
affinities with the more advanced intelligences. 
Relations with the astral world were common 
occurrences in the early periods, as the rec- 
ords concerning visions, conversations, direc- 
tions, and so on confirm, but intercourse with 
more exalted spiritual beings was reserved for 
later periods, when he had attained spiritual 
progress and more favorable conditions pre- 
vailed. 

Primitive man at first neither sought nor 
understood the value of spiritual relations, 
nor conceived any necessity for improved 
material conditions, although important need 
must have existed therefor, as he was ignorant 
and without physical comforts. Nor had any 

[79] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

one attained that plane of realization which 
recognizes the need of instruction from any 
source. The value of spiritual wisdom was 
not perceived until the divine self-conscious- 
ness obtained ascendency. Before man real- 
ized self-control he was unable to perceive 
his true relations to the Law. He did not 
know that he was upon a planet governed by 
an absolute Law. 

He was, however, in fact, and had so been 
from the beginning, a spiritual entity, in a 
world of undiscovered forces, without vision 
of his own latent capacity and sublime destiny, 
wholly unable to perceive that he could realize 
power to definitely assert control over all the 
lower orders of animal life. He did not con- 
ceive a possible future existence for himself. 
His passions, appetites, and natural desires 
were apparently limited by such satisfac- 
tions as the earth affords. Though such 
were the primal conditions, other forces were 
existent in his nature destined to show forth 
in higher intellectual and spiritual manifesta- 
tions. Though he knew it not, it was he who 
should after many cycles discover spiritual law, 

[80] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

and, most important of all, learn that truth 
and adherence to the monitions of conscience 
really describe one's sphere in the realization 
of divinity. It was to be his good fortune, 
also, to learn the reason why some could 
realize only one, while others developed many 
talents, or capacities for expression, and how 
the divine harmonies were best conserved by 
such divisions and developments. 

The intuitions of man, even in the beginning, 
seem to have been essentially correct though 
very imperfectly expressed. 

We conclude that the unfoldment of that 
capacity of spirit which relates one to higher 
planes of thought, and permits the discern- 
ment of good and evil, has proved the grandest 
beneficence yet realized. It presages the pos- 
sibility that the spirit in man may yet dis- 
cover and define its own future destiny with 
absolute perfection. A person in whom the 
lower instincts predominate may deem a 
knowledge of how to satisfy material wants 
entirely adequate for human needs, and that 
any change is undesirable which involves con- 
tinuous labor and finally the sacrifice of the 

[81] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

physical embodiment. No valid, logical objec- 
tion, however, can be offered against an evo- 
lution from prevailing conditions to those of 
more intelligent understanding, even though 
the transformation should involve a new form 
and an increase of the spirit's responsibilities 
and obligations upon other planes of service. 
Abundant and increasing spiritual benefits 
are always realized by the disciples of truth. 

We ought also to remember that in the be- 
ginning, man, by his own desire, incarnated 
upon the earth, and that he thereby became 
subject to the conditions prescribed by the 
Law under which he assumed form. 

Though in the beginning he was unable to 
comprehend the necessity of an unending life 
or his own future relations to it, he did in 
a glimmering sense perceive that under 
improved conditions he might, while here, 
advance to a better state of civilization than 
that which first prevailed. His principal 
efforts were necessarily exerted in overcom- 
ing those obstructions of nature which pre- 
vented his acquiring a satisfactory subsistence. 

It is written that he was placed in a garden 
[82] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

and commanded "to dress it and to keep 
it," showing that he as spirit had then only 
obtained a very limited control over the physi- 
cal brain, and that he was only able to per- 
form simple labors such as are connected with 
that pursuit. He remembered not, after the 
materialization of physical form, but that he 
was continuing a previous life ; nor did he per- 
ceive that his experiences amid new surround- 
ings and influences were coherent, necessary, 
symmetrical parts of an immortal, progres- 
sive life, designed to prepare him for other 
conditions of existence. It may be that if 
man had not been given a more intuitive com- 
panion than himself he would not have so 
soon evolved a self-consciousness sufficiently 
intensive to cause him to desire to taste the 
fruit of the tree of knowledge in the "midst 
of the garden/' which in a metaphysical sense 
refers to the realization of the inner self-con- 
sciousness, or the discovery of the Divine Ego. 
Such intuitions may have been first awakened 
into activity through his companion, who, in 
an esoteric or spiritual sense, more perfectly 

than he, perceived certain advantages deriv- 

[83] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

able from a knowledge of good and evil, but 
possibly did not know the physical perils that 
were involved in her acts. 

The tree in the midst of the garden may 
therefore be defined as symbolizing the Divine 
Principle within the heart of man, the bea- 
con light, the intuitive attributes, the un- 
create possessions of spirit, which relate him 
to Infinity, but which in no way relieve him 
from, but do in many respects increase, his 
responsibility for the consequences following 
a violation of spiritual laws. This allegory 
reveals important lessons applicable to hu- 
man experience in every age. Penalties as a 
natural sequence are always meted to those 
who yield to desire, whether sinful acts are 
committed in error or in premeditation, for 
the Law forever continues without change, and 
each one suffers the consequences of his own 
deeds. 



[84] 



XI 



" And they heard the voice of the Lord God walk- 
ing in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam 
and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the 
Lord God amongst the trees of the garden/' 

— Genesis 3 : 8. 

We may not assume from this allegory 
that man had realized in consciousness the 
existence of an Infinite Spirit. He was then, 
as now, a spiritual entity, superior to other 
orders in possibilities of development, but his 
brain capacity was weak and undeveloped, 
and the spirit within could not use it for the 
expression of any other than very primitive 
ideas. 

The Law as revealed in nature made few 
impressions upon his beclouded mind. He 
had formed no conception whatsoever of a 
life after physical death, nor had he realized 
any part of his divine birthright. He knew 
not how to use his opportunities for spiritual 

[85] 



THE PAST EEVBALED 

or even physical benefit. Not until many 
centuries had passed did he perceive that 
through discovery of nature's physical laws 
he could not only increase personal happiness, 
but might also advance the welfare of others. 
He was at first in many respects but little 
above the animal, hardly capable of appre- 
ciating any beneficial lesson derivable from 
nature's revelations manifested in creation. 
According to the story, he had violated 
a command, disobeyed instructions, but as 
his spiritual perception was obtuse, and the 
divine self-consciousness not yet awakened, 
we can perceive an excuse for lightly regard- 
ing injunctions said to have been given by 
the Lord God. After such disobedience, 
he began to realize that self-consciousness 
which in an occult manner has since differ- 
entiated him from all other orders of crea- 
tion, and has proved the fact of his original 
inherent possession of the Divine Principle. 
His relation to the lower orders involved 
definite responsibilities and obligations. The 
self-consciousness then awakened has since 
been the beacon light, the controlling influ- 

[86] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

ence, upon all planes which he has attained. 
Its inspirations created a longing desire to 
know the source and cause of the number- 
less spiritual and physical phenomena of the 
world ; and he has since then, through aspira- 
tion, realized considerable progress, and has 
gradually become more and more susceptible 
to spirit influences, and now exercises para- 
mount control in material matters. 

In the midst of the garden, through the 
inner self-consciousness, he heard, in the cool 
of the day, the voice of the Spirit distinctly 
asserting its divine command. Many since 
then have heard that voice, and have sought 
to stifle its persistent protest against the vio- 
lation of its admonitions. Is not the spirit 
within manifesting itself through the conscious- 
ness of man more real to-day than in the 
morning of humanity? 

After the realization of the divine self-con- 
sciousness, the spiritual eyes are opened, and 
one perceives that harmony and peace are 
rewards obtainable by conformity to required 
conditions, and that through the life one 
may enter into new and beautiful relations. 

[87] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

Man at first, without foreknowledge of the 
great perils which he would encounter, em- 
barked upon the new life, where no one had 
preceded, without any remembered experi- 
ence to guide — the star of consciousness 
revealing no trail, not even the fact that he 
must bear the issue of his own errors. 

Had he clearly foreseen his subsequent 
career, he might well have sought to hide 
himself amongst the trees of the garden, or 
have endeavored to excuse or justify his act 
of disobedience by any of the sophisms of 
which the human mind is ever the fruitful 
mother. 

After having passed the Rubicon of restraint, 
one can never return to the halcyon days of 
native simplicity, for he that has voluntarily 
sought the companionship of those in the love 
of evil, must thereafter suffer the penalties 
of disobedience; no one escapes the violated 
Law. 

Through wisdom and obedience to the di- 
vine intuitions of his better nature, one may 
finally overcome the law of Karmic action 
and enter into the enjoyment of those spirit- 

[88] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

ual correspondences, in nature like unto those 
realized by intelligences who have attained the 
heights. Such grace and perfection of character 
is the final fruition, the full realization of 
spiritual rewards for previous good actions, 
sacrifices, and sufferings in the behalf of others. 
No one, however, ever can successfully hide 
himself amid the trees of the garden, or in 
the material attractions of the physical world, 
from the presence of the Lord God (the inner 
divine self), to which reference is indirectly 
made in the allegorical story, the spiritual 
meaning of which we in part define. 

In the ninth verse, the Divine Principle, or 
Self Consciousness, appeals to the mortal 
mind in most positive terms: " Where art 
thou?" as though saying, "Thou hast, through 
disobedience, separated thyself from me, and 
hast ventured upon a wrong course of action, 
dost thou not perceive the direful conse- 
quences? What hast thou to say? Canst 
thou not see thy nakedness?" 

From the fact that man in his first estate 

perceived not his nakedness, or, more clearly 

defined, possessed not the capacity to recog- 

[89] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

nize the inherent difference between truth and 
error, it will be readily perceived that until 
he did acquire that capacity, he did not 
recognize the differentiations separating him- 
self from the lower orders of animal life. He 
had in the beginning been endowed with 
special inherent gifts of spirit not possessed by 
such orders, but it required for their demon- 
stration then, as now, occasions and necessi- 
ties for the revelation of their existence. 
No great event in the history of the human 
race has ever culminated without the produc- 
tion of the genius of the hour. As ever since, 
so was the truth illustrated in connection 
with the allegory of Eden. Adam, an alle- 
gorical representative of mankind, is the 
figure around which centers the early tradi- 
tions of the human race. He stands forth an 
embodiment of a spiritual idea, of man's free 
will and responsibility to the Law for every 
act. The fact of his inability to escape the 
judgment of the divine inner self -conscious- 
ness is the point of the narrative. This is 
what gives value and importance to the events 
recorded, and for the purposes of spiritual 

[90] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

instruction, it is of little moment to us whether 
the story is allegorical or the record of a real 
event. Its spiritual meaning distinctly de- 
fines and limits its value. It will continue to 
interest and instruct those of the coming, as 
it has those of the ages past. And so will 
it ever be, that man, seeking light, shall turn 
to the east, where new Eden Gardens will be 
found and great souls teaching important 
truths, reflecting rays of wisdom in every di- 
rection, and truly illustrating the beauty of 
righteousness, causing a resurrection of the 
latent divine spark in the consciousness of 
many, and testifying unto others the reality 
of that light which alone confers freedom. 



[91] 



XII 

"And in process of time it came to pass, that 
Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering 
unto the Lord." — Genesis 4:3. 

" And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his 
flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had 
respect unto Abel and to his offering." — Ibid. 4: 4. 

" But unto Cain and to his offering he had not 
respect." — Ibid. 4: 5. 

The allegory as recorded is significant, for it 
is true now, as in ancient times, that the nature 
of one's sacrifice indicates the plane of one's 
spiritual realization. 

What we term civilization, or the combined 

spiritual attainments of nations, may be more 

clearly comprehended, when we have learned 

prevailing beliefs and practices in respect 

of sacrifices. The Infinite Spirit, concerning 

whom the finite can learn much through the 

study of spiritual laws, needs no sacrifice from 

any one. He is Omnipotent, all-sufficient in 

[92] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

Himself. He has revealed through the Law in- 
numerable evidences of His Wisdom, and as 
we are inspired by His Spirit so may we intui- 
tively perceive the relations which the finite 
sustains to the Infinite. The forms and cere- 
monies of the past reflect the soul's constant 
desire for more light, and certain great leaders 
in spiritual and economic affairs have, through 
their services in behalf of humanity, left valu- 
able legacies in the enjoyment of which we 
may learn very much concerning the relations 
of the spirit in man with the Infinite Spirit. 
Such laborers in the spiritual vineyards of the 
world have ever been servants unto others, 
teaching many how to live in order to obtain 
foregleams of a divine realization. Through 
the ministration of such, the light of the 
coming apotheosis has been revealed for the 
benefit of those in darkness. 

The very fact of offerings, in the early ages, 
of living sacrifices, succeeded in later times by 
spiritual aspirations and self-denials, is confir- 
mation of humanity's innate desire to attain 
spiritual progress. The crude rites at first 

practiced prophetically symbolized future sac- 

[93] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

rifices of the self in behalf of others. Through 
many oblations man has slowly gained do- 
minion over his material nature. 

We would not teach that in itself the offer- 
ing of Cain was inferior or in any way less 
desirable than that of his brother Abel. The 
material of an offering cannot change man's 
relation to the Infinite, Universal, Cosmic 
Spirit, manifesting through Law. But the 
holy or whole aspiration of the soul does de- 
note spiritual desires, and aids the spirit in 
man to gain dominion over the physical brain, 
for the expression of lofty ideals and the living 
of the nobler life. 

Cain evidently had not evolved to harmonial 
relations with intelligences in the higher spirit- 
ual planes, who are ever ready and willing to 
aid those seeking the light. He may have ap- 
proached the altar with that appearance of 
self-confidence begotten of material prosperity 
readily perceived by those in advanced states 
of progress. 

While it is probably true that neither of the 
brothers were, in the proper sense of the term, 
spiritually enlightened, it is evident that Abel 

[94] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

more clearly discerned the truth than his 
brother. He may have offered his sacrifices, 
entertaining an indefinite idea that he was in 
some way a spiritual being, answerable for his 
acts. There is not much historical evidence 
to sustain this or any particular view of his 
character. It is recorded that Cain soon after 
became a murderer, implying, as such crimes 
ever do, the surrender of the higher self to the 
impulses and passions, and subserviency to 
other discords. The thought leading to such 
result probably had been long destructively 
predominant. 

Other inferences may be drawn from the 
narrative which will suggest larger generaliza- 
tions, than the mere personal acts of these two 
brothers, and more important than the conse- 
quences following from them. They naturally 
lead us to the consideration of the value of 
material, visible sacrifices, and the influence 
of such practices upon the lives of men. Has 
the sacrifice of life or the surrender of material 
values upon the altar of the church ever en- 
abled one to attain to higher spiritual realiza- 
tions ? The correct answer to this inquiry will 

[95] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

settle many important questions pertaining to 
the church militant. Beyond serving present 
and imagined needs, has there been spiritual 
benefit ? 

In the earlier periods, the sacrifice of life 
was believed to appease the wrath of an Infin- 
ite Spirit, and to procure pardon for offenses 
committed in violation of certain supposed 
divine commands. The fact of such sacrifices, 
and the belief of possible benefits to be derived 
from them, have caused many, vibrating in 
darkness, to mistakenly seek release through 
material sacrifice rather than from those aspi- 
rations and sacrifices which lead to the control 
of the self. Such periods have been those 
of great moral darkness, in which have been 
committed many cruelties without regard of 
the principles of equity, justice, or the divine 
brotherhood of man. Such low conditions 
prevailed upon the earth at the period concern- 
ing which we write. While it is true that the 
parents of the two brothers had realized 
some little knowledge of good and evil, the 
capacity to perceive the difference between 
right and wrong, ever a spiritual intuition, was 

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THE PAST KEVEALED 

only indefinitely developed in either. Neither 
of the brothers comprehended individual obli- 
gations to any Supreme Law. Nor was the 
spiritual meaning of symbols, in later ages so 
commonly employed, then understood. Only 
after many centuries of wars, conquests, de- 
structions of governments, losses of nationality, 
and apparent retrogressions, came limited 
periods of spiritual lucidity among men, dur- 
ing which great souls perceived the light, 
taught many valuable lessons as illustrated 
by previous experiences of mankind. No one 
at that time knew the fact that man is always 
rewarded or punished by his own acts. 

" If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted ? 
and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door." 

— Genesis 4:7. 



[97] 



XIII 

" Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee 
out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from 
thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee." 

— Genesis 12: 1. 

" And I will make of thee a great nation, and I 
will bless thee, and make thy name great; and 
thou shalt be a blessing." — Ibid. 12:2. 

"Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy 
exceeding great reward." — Ibid. 15: 1. 

The promise unto Abram was that he should 
be a blessing. "I am thy shield, and thy ex- 
ceeding great reward." "I will make of thee a 
great nation." In the fulfillment of the prom- 
ise a change of domicile occurred, a removal 
from the land of his birth into another section. 
Considerations of individual prosperity were 
doubtless important, though secondary com- 
pared with the blessings which others would 
realize through his agency. 

His descendants would multiply and become 
[98] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

powerful, a great nation, though its long night 
of slavery and subsequent distribution over 
the earth, which, in the light of history, ap- 
pears to have been divinely ordered for the 
purpose of extending civil government, was 
not then revealed. While we reverently and 
gladly offer our tribute unto his memory, and 
would in no way belittle his character or the 
services he or his immediate successors ren- 
dered in the cause of racial progress, loyalty 
to facts compels us to record that we find little 
to attract attention, few deeds performed by 
any one belonging to the race worthy of special 
commemoration — until many generations had 
passed, when one of the world's really great 
men, in another country, and under adverse 
conditions, materially aided the cause of hu- 
manity and rescued his people from servitude, 
and accomplished many other important re- 
sults, not the least of which was the initiation 
of a system of civil jurisprudence, which, with 
modifications adapted to other and later times, 
has stood the test of revolutions, survived the 
rise and fall of empires, and remains to per- 
petuate the genius of its founder. 

[99] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

Through obedience to the Commandments 
delivered unto that great lawgiver, millions 
have realized great spiritual light and benefi- 
cent guidance while incarnated in the human 
form. Though the text specially refers to the 
earlier periods, we may here state that a part 
of the Hebrew race in every age since the time 
of Abram, notwithstanding frequent depar- 
tures of some from spirit leading, have con- 
tinuously idealized the finer intuitions, holding 
to standards of ethics in advance of those 
taught or attained by most other races. This 
statement, however, must not be construed as 
indicating an universal practice at any period 
of all the virtues. We would, however, relieve 
the race from the censure of a willing participa- 
tion in, or responsibility for, the many acts 
of cruelty committed in the past by orders of 
some of its cruel rulers. From the time of 
Moses unto this day, there has ever been a 
longing desire, and a confident expectation in 
the heart of the plain people, so absolutely 
trusted as to firmly settle in the consciousness 
of the race the belief that the God of Abraham 
will yet restore His chosen people to the pos- 

[100] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

session of its ancient heritage, and to a greater 
than its original prestige and glory. That 
expectation is to the common Hebrew mind 
like unto a self-evident fact, admitting no 
question. Some, however, who realize that 
there may be some special meaning in the 
ancient covenant, do, indeed, look for the day 
when the truth shall be fully revealed. Then 
they confidently hope every son of Israel will 
realize, in its most sacred spiritual sense, the 
significance of the command given unto Abram, 
"Get thee out of thy country, and from thy 
kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a 
land that I will shew thee." For the Infinite 
Spirit that through the One Law ruled over the 
universe in the time of Abram, was, is, and ever 
will be, and all His people will sometime per- 
ceive the spiritual significance of the early 
promises, which, once fully realized in human 
consciousness, will promote peace and concord 
everywhere. 

The recognition of the principle of brother- 
hood, for which the Jews have always stood, 
has already resulted in an important conference 
and the establishment of a permanent Court of 

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THE PAST REVEALED 

Arbitration. While this may appeal to man 
only in its material aspects, it is in reality a 
reflection of that Higher Court whose man- 
dates will be accepted by all when truth, har- 
mony, and love prevail upon the earth. 

Abram was both a personal and a collective 
fore-representative of a race which was to be 
made great — which would be blessed, whose 
glory and greatness would be a blessing (Gen. 
12:2); all, it will be observed, having reference 
to those blessings which were yet to be received 
from Him, with whom a thousand years is as 
a night passed, infinitesimal in point of time, 
comparatively less than that consumed by the 
flower opening its petals to the early rays of the 
morning sun. In confirmation of the fact that 
all hopes will be realized, the source of the 
promise forever precludes the possibility of fail- 
ure, "Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and 
thy exceeding great reward " (Ibid. 15:1). 

Whatever may betide man among the objec- 
tive experiences of earth, there is one Source or 
Fount of Good, once revealed in his conscious- 
ness, love thereafter impels to the perform- 
ance of beneficent sacrifice and service. Such 

[102] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

spiritual realizations often transforms the hu- 
man heart unto a likeness or spiritual image 
of its Divine Author, very beautifully illus- 
trated in service unto others. The impulse 
of race solidarity has protected the Jews in 
hours of darkest peril and persecution. That 
impulse has served as a protecting shield, 
and has maintained the integrity and con- 
tinuity of the Hebrew race, delivered its leaders 
from great political and financial perils, and 
kept its blood separate, distinct, and pure. 
These are facts of common observation, fa- 
miliar to all observers. 

But for what purpose have so many sacri- 
fices been required? Why have gifts beyond 
measure been so freely bestowed by the pros- 
perous to assist the brotherhood and to keep 
the race distinct? Is God a respecter of per- 
sons that he should incline the great and good 
among that race only, to sustain and succor 
those of the brotherhood in sore distress ? This 
must be the Divine Method of bestowing bless- 
ings, of making the Jewish name great and 
glorious, for by closing the heart against charity 
and love the Jews might long since have been 

[103] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

blotted from the calendar of the world's bene- 
factors. It needs but a superficial investiga- 
tion to dispel all doubt concerning the divine 
perfection of the Law, in obedience to the cardi- 
nal principles of which the Jews have con- 
tinued unto the present hour. In the realms 
of spirit, as in the kingdom of material affairs, 
every cause produces with absolute certainty 
definite results. Both Hebrew and Gentile 
have unconsciously manifested the inevitable 
issue prescribed by the Law. The multiplic- 
ity of apparently opposing forces operating 
in the universe are clearly revealed unto those 
who perceive their occult modes of expression, 
as illustrating cosmic order, and the general 
unity of the perfect and absolute Law. It is 
also clear to one who has made a study of 
spiritual matters that those who make their 
brothers' interests and happiness their own 
prosper, and receive blessings and spiritual 
satisfactions without number. It is its mode 
of demonstrating the possibility of an apo- 
theosis while yet in the physical state. 

When we note the many failures that re- 
sulted from the efforts of the early Jews to 

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THE PAST EEVEALED 

establish better spiritual and political con- 
ditions, we should remember that they were 
subject to many limitations, greatly circum- 
scribed. They were not navigators of the sea, 
did not migrate to distant countries, and 
consequently could not profit from the dis- 
coveries which had been made by other nations. 
Within a narrow country, rich in some but 
weak in other resources, they were the first 
and the only people to evolve from the inner 
self-consciousness a spiritual theocracy, — the 
outlines of a system, if you so please to term 
it, radically different from those imperfect 
forms of government which had previously 
been established by the Egyptians, Chaldeans, 
and Atlanteans, as each of those systems was 
principally designed to further researches in 
astronomical science, and to disseminate such 
knowledge among a certain class of students, 
who incidentally served as priests, but who 
received their support from the State for the 
purposes stated. Neither of those nations had 
evolved any system of civil government worthy 
the name. Autocratic rule sustained by mili- 
tary force everywhere prevailed among them. 

[105] 



XIV 

" As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, 
and thou shalt be a father of many nations." 

— Genesis 17: 4. 

"Neither shall thy name any more be called 
Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a 
father of many nations have I made thee." 

— Ibid. 17: 5. 

" And I will establish my covenant between me 
and thee and thy seed after thee in their generation 
for an everlasting convenant, to be a God unto thee, 
and to thy seed after thee." — Ibid. 17: 7. 

" And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains 
of Mamre : and he sat in the tent door in the heat of 
the day. " — Ibid. 18: 1. 

The individual sensitive to spiritual influ- 
ences vividly feels a conscious unity with those 
in spiritual realms. While some are more sus- 
ceptible than others, it is possible for all to 
realize, in measure, corresponding to states of 
progress, the beautiful rhythmic harmonies 
of nature which are reflections of those which 

[106] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

pervade the spiritual spheres. Some quickly 
respond to sensations and influences which are 
not readily felt by others, while some attain 
freedom in the expression of thought, and 
serve as the revelators of truth. In order to 
successfully accomplish the mission of teaching 
others, there is real necessity that one should 
live upon planes above the average of hu- 
manity. Under the Law, when the spirit has 
gained full control or mastery of a person's 
physical brain, the individual, if he so wills and 
aspires, may receive such impressions and direct 
communications from those in superior states 
as will enable him to serve beneficent ends, or 
by yielding to the leadings of those in low 
conditions of excarnate life may incur and 
suffer the deepest pangs of despair and re- 
morse. The Law under which spiritual reveal- 
ments occur is not limited to supplying the 
special necessities of man, but is an inherent 
principle of nature as yet but imperfectly 
understood. 

Our Scriptures contain many records relating 
to such matters. At the time of Abraham, no 

one had acquired much knowledge in regard 

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THE PAST EEVEALED 

to spiritual laws. There were then ; as there 
have been in all subsequent times, certain 
intelligences, who were, in fact, spiritual vice- 
gerents of those who had attained apparently 
supreme power, acting as their executive 
agents in the enforcement of the minor pro- 
visions of the Law, and always willing to 
teach mortals, though but few had then real- 
ized spiritual correspondences which enabled 
them to receive direct instruction. There has 
always been required due preparation by the 
instrument of spirit, before the possibility of 
manifestation, howsoever great may have 
been present exigencies or the needs of man- 
kind for special revelations of truth. 

In respect of having realized correspondences 
which enabled him to receive communications 
from spirit intelligences, there had been with 
Abraham a fortunate concurrence of condi- 
tions. Many causes had contributed to that 
end. His pure, upright character, his life in 
tents where atmospheric conditions were favor- 
able, and few opposing vibrations, his ad- 
vanced years, when the objective capacities 
of mind are less aggressive and the spiritual 

[108] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

perception more definitely polarized than in 
youth, were all contributing influences, which, 
happily combined, enabled certain intelligences 
to reveal their presence, and deliver their 
messages as they are related to have done 
upon the plains of Mamre. 

The realization of certain spiritual powers, 
common in our day, were not usual in those 
times, but their possession by Abraham clearly 
accounts for his ability to communicate with 
those from other spheres. We need not won- 
der that what at that time must have appeared 
supernatural, though perfectly within the do- 
main of Law, should have been ascribed to God. 
Judging from the records which have been pre- 
served to us, it is certain that neither the Jews 
nor any other of the races then upon the earth 
had developed any definite ideas regarding the 
Infinite Spirit. Special terms and definitions 
had not become fixed in the Jewish vocabulary. 
All primitive races have ever been ignorant and 
superstitious, and have not perceived that the 
soul of man was one with the Divine Principle, 
nor have they ever duly appreciated the fact 

that spirit is the essential part of the beauty 

[109] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

and glory reflected in the Universal Life. We 
may well remember that forever memorable 
appearance and interview upon the plains of 
Mamre, where a messenger of the higher life, 
one who had realized the powers of prevision, 
through spiritual correspondences and conso- 
ciations, appeared unto Abram, revealing a new 
name, to indicate the office and grand objects 
to be accomplished, and announced the fact 
that through him would be established an ever- 
lasting covenant with his people, and that he 
would become the father of many nations. 
That messenger needs no credentials from any 
one in this age, as history has established the 
fact that his message embodied a great truth. 



[110] 



XV 

"And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, 
three men stood by him : and when he saw them, he 
ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed 
himself toward the ground." — Genesis 18:2. 

All selfishness eliminated from the hearts 

of men, and every one seeking the good of his 

neighbor as the chief object of life, there could 

be created a spiritual atmosphere in which 

the most delicate vibrations sent from other 

spheres would be clearly perceived. Direct 

communications could, under such conditions, 

be received and understood. We think it 

would then not be impossible to see the forms 

of our arisen brothers, and in those sections 

removed from the din and bustle of business 

activities, spiritual bodies might walk the 

fields and hold natural converse with mortals. 

It would be within the range of possibilities 

were the higher spiritual consciousness fully 

realized by all. 

[Ill] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

When one studies the life of Abraham, he 
is, as it were, taken back to that age and to 
the plains of Mamre. He perceives there a 
condition favorable to spiritual harmony — 
an atmosphere clear and exhilarating. No 
disquieting causes prevail between the fol- 
lowers of Abraham and the natives of that 
country — members of other tribes. The 
matters that appeared at first as a possible 
reason for conflict between the herdsman of 
Lot and those of Abraham had been happily 
adjusted. Peaceful relations existed without 
and sufficient tribal prosperity within, to pre- 
clude want, but not so great as to generate 
the avaricious spirit, which afterwards proved 
such a retarding influence and, finally, contrib- 
uted to many of the Jewish misfortunes. 
No destructive, internal conflicts disturbed the 
tribual communities. In every respect ideal 
conditions for spiritual intercommunication 
prevailed. To one who has made progress, and 
has realized some evidences of the possibili- 
ties of spirit, the revelations which Abraham 
is related to have received will appear natural 
and within the scope of probability, showing 

[112] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

that he had attained that stage of progress 
where personal directions for beneficial uses 
could be received from those in the astral 
states of being. 



[113] 



XVI 

" And the men turned their faces from thence, and 
went toward Sodom : but Abraham stood yet before 
the Lord." — Genesis 18: 22. 

"And there came two angels to Sodom at even; 
and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing 
them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself 
with his face toward the ground." — Ibid. 19 : 1. 

" And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any 
besides ? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, 
and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out 
of this place." — Ibid. 19: 12. 

" For we will destroy this place, because the cry 
of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord ; 
and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it." 

— Ibid. 19:13. 

" And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, 
and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which 
grew upon the ground." — Ibid. 19: 25. 

In our comments upon certain conditions 

which prevailed in the time of Abraham, it 

was stated that he was able through spirit- 

[114] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

ual relations to commune with a celestial 
intelligence — probably one to whom had 
been delegated authority over the affairs of 
the Jewish tribes, possibly the god of the 
eastern hemisphere. Under the Law celes- 
tial intelligences after having made sufficient 
advancement may serve as its vicegerents. 
There were then, as now, various orders of intel- 
ligences, who served in different capacities. 
Some were executive agents of the Law, 
whose supreme purpose and care it was to 
see that not one jot or tittle of it failed in 
the accomplishment of the purposes for which 
it was instituted. The Law itself is an in- 
tangible principle, a force, which can only be 
perfectly defined by those spiritual intelligences 
who have become Masters of Wisdom, — those 
who have attained to that state of illumination 
wherein the principles of harmony are su- 
preme. Such intelligences can, at will, pass 
through the immensities of space and com- 
municate with those whom they desire to 
teach. The fact of being an excarnate spirit 
does not presuppose the possession of spiritual 

attainments in perfection. Doubtless those 

[115] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

who turned their faces from the presence of 
that Lord of the Law who had been convers- 
ing with Abraham, and departed toward Sodom 
(the term here, in a metaphysical sense, rep- 
resenting the material world), were but spirit- 
ual neophytes, not versed in the laws of 
intercommunication. While unto Abraham 
spiritual intelligences were not only veritable 
entities, but far more than that, messengers 
of truth and friends. 

The chief importance attached to the nar- 
rative is contained in the statement that 
" Abraham stood yet before the Lord," by 
that act separating himself from those who 
turned toward Sodom. In a previous verse 
it is related that there were three men who 
appeared unto Abraham. Afterwards each 
turned his face, while but one (Abraham) 
stood in the presence of the Lord — one wise 
and three in error. Has the ratio changed 
since that day? With all our boasted civili- 
zation, do not three fourths, the world over, 
seek its glittering attractions and generalities, 
instead of its verities? If each one seeks 
to know the self, to ascertain the motive 

[116] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

back of every action, he will soon discover 
whether he is a representative of the minority 
or the majority in the issues of life. 

There are, in the cosmic order, messengers 
of destruction as also those of construction, — 
those who conserve the principle of change, 
those who represent the forces working for 
redistribution and reorganization, those who 
cooperate with and direct the energies of na- 
ture in new ways, and assist in the establish- 
ment of new expressions, superseding former 
conditions. There, also, are those who rec- 
ognize the fact that there are laws of nature, 
but do not perceive the purpose for which 
they exist. The fact that those messengers 
or forerunners of change were directed or 
attracted to Lot, and revealed unto him the 
approaching catastrophe, giving him, and 
those connected with him, an opportunity to 
escape, would indicate that Lot had evolved 
certain correspondences of spirit, and was 
living upon a higher plane of life than gener- 
ally prevailed in Sodom at that time. He 
would not otherwise have been directed to 
flee from danger, while so many others were 

[117] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

left subject to the destructive elements. This 
view of his character is confirmed by the 
records concerning the division of territory 
between Abraham and himself, and how, 
thereby, conflicts between the herdsmen of 
the respective parties were avoided. 

It is not required that we should long 
dwell upon the destruction of Sodom, that 
city of the plain, given over to the gratifica- 
tion of the lower instincts of humanity, whose 
inhabitants possessed so few virtues that not 
even ten righteous ones could be found in it. 
The story has a metaphysical meaning of 
value and conveys a lesson that has not been 
lost, though the incident was recorded many 
centuries ago. It may be summed up in some 
such manner as this: The individual action 
is often representative of a community. 
One's conduct under special impulse is a 
composite reflection of his past. If one allows 
his own freedom of will to become subject to 
the forces of evil, — so-called, — if he con- 
tinually joins himself to the imperfect exoteric 
expressions of the undeveloped good, he does, 
by such repeated actions, grow into such cor- 

[118] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

respondences as indicate reaction, a swing of 
the pendulum backward, though its final direc- 
tion is ever onward. During such periods of 
apparent retrogression, the materialities of 
earth obscure the spiritual vision, and the 
individual sinks into those depths of degrada- 
tion, escape from which appears unto our 
vision impossible. The change that we call 
death is a door of escape for such, as through 
it new opportunities are presented for advance 
to higher planes. 

Apply the principle of the Law to any num- 
ber of individuals, to a city, a community, 
or nation, and you will perceive a reason for 
what often appears unexplainable. The aver- 
age moral consciousness of the inhabitants of 
a city, when living upon a low plane, is such as 
to invite destruction, as the fate of many long 
since buried, could they speak, would attest. 



[119] 



XVII 

" And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac." 

— Genesis 25: 5. 

" Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a 
good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was 
gathered to his people." — Ibid. 25: 8. 

"And Isaac was forty years old when he took 
Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the 
Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the 
Syrian." — Ibid. 25: 20. 

" And Jacob sod pottage : and Esau came from the 
field, and he was faint." — Ibid. 25: 29. 

" And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright." 

— Ibid. 25:31. 

"And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he 
sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto 
Jacob." — Ibid. 25: 33. 

Whether Abraham adopted or established 
primogeniture we are not informed, nor does 
Scripture afford us light in respect of that 
matter. The fact is stated that Abraham 

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THE PAST BEVEALED 

gave all unto Isaac, the firstborn son of Sarah, 
though before that a son, by a bondwoman, 
had been born, and subsequently by another 
wife, after the death of Sarah, six children, 
neither of whom received anything from his 
possessions. I am aware that primogeniture, 
conferring the exclusive right of the inheri- 
tance of realty still prevails, and that the 
principle is recognized in the law of one of 
the leading nations of the earth — doubtless 
maintained through the influence of an aris- 
tocracy sustained by ownership of lands. We 
have, however, no evidence that properties 
of any sort in the day of Abraham were held 
by title deeds, or that real estate was valuable, 
except as it could be used temporarily for the 
sustenance of domestic animals, which were 
driven from place to place as exigencies re- 
quired. 

In the beginning of values, the descent of 
property to the eldest son included both per- 
sonal and such equities as pertained to the 
occupancy of lands. It has required many 
centuries and numerous conflicts since then to 

establish the rights of members of families and 

[121] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

others to the wealth left by deceased relatives 
or by persons through wills or gifts. The fact 
that in the royal family of England, the eldest 
son of the sovereign is entitled to the throne 
by primogeniture, and that in exceptional cases, 
among the female children, the crown descends 
by the same right to the eldest daughter only, 
and her issue, has operated to confirm in that 
country as a principle of law what was at first 
the mere personal act of an ancient Jewish 
nomad. 

According to the record, Abraham disposed 
of his possessions, giving all unto Isaac before 
passing from earth to spirit life. That is not 
the usual custom of the present age, though 
there are not wanting similar instances. We 
have no information of the existence at that 
time of any written statutes relative to inheri- 
tances, nor in fact, in relation to any other such 
matter. We are now only interested to know 
that Isaac became the sole possessor of his 
father's estate, and thereby assumed responsi- 
bility for its proper administration. 

There was a moral obligation that he should 
exercise justice and equity in the manage- 

[122] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

ment of the interests which he inherited, for 
then, as now, the less fortunate expected much 
from those in the prosperous conditions of life. 
Happily we are not without data enabling 
us to draw conclusions in respect of the life 
and character of Isaac. Unto those early 
patriarchs the world has turned for many 
centuries, sometimes in admiration and ap- 
proval, but often in criticism. They have, in 
a certain sense, been deified as the founders 
of a great spiritual theocracy, the Hebrew 
commonwealth. It seems to us that the pres- 
ent is an opportune time to dispel the gloss 
and glamour, the magic and spell, woven 
around the early founders of that common- 
wealth, by courtesy so named, and in place 
thereof incorporate a more correct statement 
of the real moral and material conditions 
which then prevailed. We are aware that our 
statements may be controverted, and that 
we probably will be accused of a desire to be- 
little and degrade to the common level those 
who have, by some, been placed upon the 
loftiest pinnacles of fame and endowed with 

almost unattainable superiorities. Such criti- 

[123] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

cisms do not concern us, nor in any manner 
change the purpose and design of those 
with whom we are cooperating in the pro- 
duction of this work. Our only purpose is 
to place before the reader the truth, and 
in so far as possible to correctly portray the 
early conditions of the Jewish life. In order 
to succeed in that undertaking we implicitly 
rely upon those able to impart all needful 
information. 

Previous to his death, Abraham, desirous 
of having his son married, exacted from his 
oldest servant an oath that he would go to 
the country of his master and there seek out 
a wife for his son Isaac — a rather delicate 
mission, it must be admitted. Isaac at the 
time was forty years of age, and, in our day, 
might be considered quite old enough to act 
for himself, but such affairs must then have 
been conducted somewhat after the present 
fashion in royal families, where the affairs of 
state have much to do in the selection of 
Queens and Consorts. 

The success resulting from that mission 

affords an opportunity to study some of the 

[124] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

early customs of the Jewish people. It 
teaches the importance once attached to 
visions, such as would now be termed com- 
munications from the astral world, and the 
reliance placed upon them — "And the Lord 
appeared unto Abraham/' etc. Trusting and 
believing the Voice, Abraham commanded 
that his servant — his oldest and trusted 
chief of the household — should not select 
a companion for his son of the Canaan- 
ites among whom he dwelt. Unlike some 
other races, the Jews have never encouraged 
promiscuous marriages, and have by the strict 
observance of customs in this respect escaped 
amalgamation with foreign elements, and 
have preserved, uncontaminated, the blood 
of the race. 

The servant successfully performed the 
errand intrusted to him, as we are told that 
Rebekah, the sister of Laban the Syrian, re- 
turned with him, and that Isaac took her to 
wife and loved her. For a period of about 
twenty years no children were born to them 
— conditions corresponding to those of his 
father's family previous to his own birth. 

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THE PAST REVEALED 

We however read that he successfully en- 
treated the Lord for his wife. To those who 
have not learned the power of spirit to define 
form, the action of Isaac will be an enigma, 
a child's request, showing simplicity without 
wisdom; but to those who have proved the 
facts of nature, the request will not appear 
unreasonable, though the birth of a child 
involves a different attraction and the control 
of different laws from those required to create 
phenomenal apparitions. Isaac may have 
known that in the spiritual world were forces 
which could be evoked for the accomplish- 
ment of desirable ends, though it is more than 
probable he was in complete ignorance con- 
cerning prenatal or spiritual laws of any 
nature. 

It is interesting for us to study this mat- 
ter, for following the entreaty we read, "And 
the Lord [the communicating spirit] said 
unto her [Rebekah], Two nations are in thy 
womb, and two manner of people shall be 
separated from thy bowels ; and the one people 
shall be stronger than the other people; and 
the elder shall serve the younger." 

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THE PAST KEVEALED 

The answer to Isaac's appeal related to the 
correspondences that exist upon two planes 
of realization — not an infrequent occur- 
rence, though often misunderstood. While 
Isaac did not understand the laws of vibra- 
tion, attraction, and the like, he believed 
that certain intelligences could answer his 
invocations. To many it may appear an 
anomaly that invocations relating to such 
matters should through the unchanging law 
obtain answers, — that conception should fol- 
low, and, above all, that there should result 
the birth of two sons, twins, of such dissimi- 
lar aptitudes, and that one should become 
servant unto the other. Aside from its spirit- 
ual and metaphysical lesson, the story has 
little value and is hardly worth preservation. 
One will observe the order of birth, though 
under the law of nature in relation of time 
there could have been no great difference. 
Esau was first ushered into physical life (af- 
terwards described as a hairy man) — the 
representative of the animal type, who subse- 
quently became an expert hunter, and won the 
love of his father, while his brother, Jacob, 

[127] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

grew to be a plain man, who gave his attention 
to the acquirement of wealth. This trait of 
his character is fully illustrated in the terms 
subsequently dictated to his brother as the 
price of food to allay the pangs of hunger. 
That he should later on exercise the larger 
influence and control in affairs is but natural, 
for business acumen, even if of the lower 
order, usually prevails over indifference. His 
mother may have recognized his thrifty habits 
of life, and on that account have been spe- 
cially attracted to him, and have loved him 
better than Esau. 

Subsequently there was a famine in the 
land, and Isaac with his family went unto 
Gerar, among the Philistines, when Abime- 
lech was king, or chief, of the tribes. He 
dwelt there and had success, reaping a hun- 
dred fold from his sowing. He largely in- 
creased his flocks and herds, and subsequently 
excited the envy of the natives, who forced 
him to move to another part of the country. 
During the period of his residence in Abime- 
lech's land he secured a supply of water, and, 
as the country was naturally fertile, succeeded 

[128] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

in maintaining his prosperity, and acquired 
much influence. From that early period we 
may trace the paramount control of wealth, 
which in succeeding centuries led to social 
distinctions and the separation of families. 

No great moral lessons can be drawn from 
the career of Isaac. He appears to have been 
a prudent, successful, upright person, as the 
virtues of life were then understood and prac- 
ticed. We have also in connection with 
those early times the story of the means 
employed by Jacob and his mother to deceive 
Isaac, after blindness had overtaken him, 
in relation to the bestowal of his blessing. 
The deceit and false representations seem to 
have been without justification. Jacob, like 
his father, possessed some medial gifts, but his 
correspondences were with the lower orders 
of astral intelligences, and served no special 
purpose until late in life. 

Through ignorance of natural law, Jacob 
in the earlier part of his life ascribed such 
visions, and the voices that he was able to 
hear, unto the Lord God, but in reality 
they were but manifestations from the astral 

[129] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

world from those very near the earth plane. 
The fact that he circumvented his brother by 
a deceit, and thereby unjustly secured for 
himself the father's blessing, in the odium 
of which his mother shared, conclusively 
establishes the truth that he had not then 
attained the higher realization of spirit, nor 
any very clear conception concerning indi- 
vidual equities upon this plane. 

Nor is there any evidence that Esau pos- 
sessed any special spiritual gifts. We will 
state for the information of the reader that 
such power is not associated with, nor de- 
pendent upon, moral or spiritual exaltations, 
but that the nature of one's correspondence 
is revealed by the attractions. They are 
indices of the progress one has attained. 

The term "Lord God," so frequently used in 
the earlier Scriptures, has been wrongly pre- 
sumed to refer to the Infinite Intelligence, 
thereby leading many to suppose that the 
patriarchs did in fact realize the beatitudes 
of the divine self-consciousness. 

Jacob was without great intellectual gifts, 
though a certain natural sagacity enabled 

[130] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

him to succeed in the acquisition of property. 
In early life he was not averse to the sacri- 
fice of principle for gain — as his business rela- 
tions with his father-in-law attest. We are 
in no manner defending Laban, and simply 
refer to Jacob's methods to illustrate his 
character, and to show that he was not in 
harmonial correspondence with spiritual intel- 
ligences of the higher order, whose leadings 
forever preclude the employment of unjust 
means to accomplish any purpose. His na- 
ture, subject to natural impulse, limited the 
sphere of his perception and prevented spiritual 
realizations. 

The story of his departure from the pres- 
ence of Isaac and Rebekah, and his long resi- 
dence at Padan-aram with Laban, his service 
with the latter, his taking unto himself Leah, 
the daughter whom he did not love, and sub- 
sequently obtaining Rachel, whom he did 
love, as related in Scripture, conveys an eso- 
teric lesson of special value. It is by con- 
templation of his experiences during those 
years, that foregleams of hope are awakened 
in the hearts of those waiting and longing 

[131] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

for more favorable conditions of life. It is 
very doubtful if Jacob then divined the 
spiritual meaning of his own life. Doubtless 
he was a willing exile from the presence of 
his brother. Even his primitive ideas of 
justice must have made an association with 
him unpleasant. 

" And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on 
the earth and the top of it reached to heaven : and 
behold the angels of God ascending and descending 

on it." — Genesis 28: 12. 

"And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is 
this place ! this is none other but the house of God, 
and this is the gate of heaven." — Ibid. 28 : 17. 

Taken in connection with the idea of his 
low medial attractions, and the memory of 
the injustice he had practiced upon his brother, 
the constant reversions of a somewhat dor- 
mant consciousness, we are not surprised by 
his separation from the other members of the 
family. This may have been an attempt to 
escape the constant reminder of that glim- 
mering light which made him afraid, as stated 
in the text. Intuition of consciousness was 
the Nemesis, the divine vengeance, the judge 

[132] 



THE FAST REVEALED 

and the executioner, for in like or some other 
manner have the occult laws of nature for- 
ever been revealed. In conditions of har- 
mony, the spirit of man is not restrained. 
It enjoys the largest liberty, and finally 
realizes the beauty of nature and the per- 
fection of the great cosmic laws of the 
universe, for it is itself in unity with those 
laws. 

Though at first in a state of excited, turbid 
unrest, the spirit (the Essence of the Principle 
in man), like unto a bounding stream rushing 
through the gorge and over the precipice, 
outworks its destiny and passes into final states 
of tranquillity. 

All subjective and objective forces are forever 
under the dominion of the Unchanging Law, 
and he who looks beneath the surface in the 
investigation of spiritual matters will perceive 
that realizations are constant, and slowly 
but surely prepare conditions for an unend- 
ing life of noble expression, upon planes where 
highest aspirations center, neither limited, con- 
trolled, nor in any manner subject to the 
bondage of karmic action. And thus under 

[133] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

the varying influences forever operative, — 
in many ways and by apparently strange 
methods, — the supremacy of the Law is 
illustrated. Jacob's experiences were doubtless 
all necessary for spiritual progress. 

This is the natural deduction we draw from 
his early life. He had, until the time we 
write of, concentrated his powers in the 
acquisition of wealth, and according to the 
law of similars, like attracting like, those 
astral intelligences in sympathy with the 
purpose of his life were naturally called 
into his atmosphere, and, cooperating with 
his desires, largely influenced his action. 
Through astral leadings he was able to 
attain the object of his ambition. The means 
adopted for success in this direction pre- 
clude the idea that at the time of his 
separation from Laban he had realized any 
advanced concepts of truth, or that he 
perceived any necessity for a more perfect 
realization of spiritual wisdom. He was yet 
bound. His spirit had neither sought nor 
obtained freedom. There is no evidence that 
he even desired or knew anything whatsoever 

[134] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

concerning more beautiful, enduring, and 
spiritual correspondences or other than those 
which the material successes of this world fur- 
nish. He had attracted unto himself astral 
intelligences of the lower order, whose thought 
vibrations prevented the realization of spirit- 
ual truth. He had selected his associates, 
and therefore suffered the penalty of his 
choice. 

He served under Laban for a period of 
twenty years, and by various methods ad- 
vanced his material interests so that further 
connection with him appeared undesirable. 
But the light of consciousness, though long ob- 
scured, was not wholly effaced. Conscience 
seems to have reproved certain acts of decep- 
tion through which he had obtained success. 
For his conduct towards Laban, he attempted 
to justify himself by accusations against 
his employer, making the allegation that dur- 
ing the time of service his wages had been 
changed ten times. In such manner he 
sought to justify his own acts of deceptive 
cunning, a method of reasoning not uncom- 
mon in our own day. 

[135] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

After he had become what the world terms 
rich, and could command a numerous retinue 
of men and maid servants, beside cattle and 
flocks in abundance, he left the country in 
which he had achieved so much, and directed 
his course towards the land of Seir, in the 
country of Edom, occupied by his elder 
brother Esau. We have noted some of the 
reasons which influenced his departure from 
Padan-aram. There were also probably other 
causes. The large increase in flocks and herds 
may have required a more abundant supply 
of water and grasses. These two principal 
necessities of the herdsman have always been 
most important in all climates of the earth. 
He was leaving a rich country and about 
to occupy one with the resources of which 
he was familiar. The probable issues of 
the move were doubtless properly consid- 
ered. Were there any reasons to prevent his 
return? Let us see. Esau was there. But 
Esau was his brother, and that should not 
have been an objection ; but we read in 
Chapter 32, verses 9-11, the prayer of Jacob 
(prayer is often employed in times of fear, — 

[136] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

and fear itself is frequently the child of 
sin, — the expression of the consciousness of 
wrong), "For I fear him, lest he will come 
and smite me/' etc. Had Esau ever com- 
mitted a wrong against Jacob? We have no 
reason to believe he ever had. Upon Jacob's 
return did he demand the gifts of goats, 
sheep, camels, bulls, and asses, as the price 
of forgiveness? Apparently not, for we read 
in Chapter 33, verse 4 : "And Esau ran 
to meet him, and embraced him, and fell 
on his neck, and kissed him : and they 
wept." Previous to this meeting Jacob had 
sent his servants to meet Esau, with large 
presents. For what reason? Do not the 
verses quoted contain it? As we have stated, 
Jacob possessed some medial powers of the 
lower sort, but, as with many of the present 
time, he mistook the astral influences sur- 
rounding him for those of a much higher 
order. He yielded to those impressions with 
which he was in natural, uniform corre- 
spondence. He perceived the visions and 
heard the voices directing his return to his 

native land, and accepted them as revela- 

[137] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

tions, for the reason that they accorded with 
his self-interest. 

In relation to what his brother's feeling 
towards him might be, he probably considered 
the element of time, its mollifying influence 
upon the human heart, and what would be 
its effect upon a nature like Esau's. The 
accusations of conscience may have been real, 
for an undefinable fear appears to have held 
him in restraint. Surely memory failed not 
to recall the events of early days. 

An unreal entity, the creation of fear, the 
offspring of conscious wrong, stood in the 
way, as though with a visible wand in- 
scribed, "Thus far and no farther." To 
him it seemed to ward off and prevent his 
crossing the ancient boundaries of the land of 
his birth, and yet in obedience to the voices 
and visions, which he so implicitly trusted, 
he must go forward. And thus in his case, 
as with millions since, consciousness of sin 
limited freedom of soul and held him in sub- 
jugation to its tyrannical behests. 

We can readily perceive what may have 

been in the mind of Jacob, and that he judged 

[138] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

the probable action of his brother from his 
own plane of reason. 

After sending forward valuable presents, 
he remained behind lest his brother should, 
even at that late day seek revenge for a great 
wrong suffered long before. He, however, 
misjudged the nature of Esau, for we read 
he fell upon the neck of Jacob and kissed him 
and said unto him: "What meanest thou 
by all this drove which I met?" And when 
told they were to find grace in his sight, his 
reply was, "I have enough, my brother; keep 
that thou hast unto thyself." Jacob, how- 
ever, possessed the natural cunning of the 
world, and did not underestimate the value 
of peace, so with great urging prevailed upon 
his brother to accept the gifts, after which, 
it is related, he proceeded to a certain place 
and pitched his tents, bought a parcel of land, 
and erected an altar. 

We may here note that it was customary 

among the Jews in the early times to erect 

altars of very simple construction wherever 

a place had been selected to remain for any 

special time. This fact, however, does not 

[139] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

presuppose any established system of teach- 
ing, nor does it in any way confirm what 
has been said by some to be true, that 
the Jews had knowledge of a future life or 
the "soul's eternal persistence, and that altars 
were symbols of that belief. Such ideas at 
that time constituted no part of the Jewish 
religion. We are not justified in any inference 
that Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob considered death 
anything other than a misfortune. The idea 
of an existence in an under world (afterwards 
subdivided) had not then been conceived. 

The life of the Jews in the early ages was 
chiefly, if not wholly, concerned with present 
conditions. Future relations invited no 
consideration until many generations after- 
wards, when farther progress had been 
achieved and men had become better quali- 
fied to reason concerning spiritual matters. 
Enough, however, is recorded to enable us 
to draw fairly correct conclusions concerning 
certain customs which were common in those 
days. 



[140] 



XVIII 

" And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob : thy 
name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel 
shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. ;; 

— Genesis 35: 10. 

Jacob had long been a man of affairs, held 
to the attractions and illusions of earth, chiefly 
interested in those pursuits which had for 
their ultimate purpose the increase of wealth, 
the accumulation of things which perish in 
the using. While so engaged there came 
within the tentative sphere of his life certain 
aids and assistants which enabled him to 
succeed in obtaining the objects of his desire, 
but, in the meantime, wove around him cer- 
tain karmic conditions limiting spiritual 
perception. He had secured large posses- 
sions, paying the usual price of bondage to 
the attractions which he too highly valued. 
Doubtless influenced by desire for more, a 

passion once awakened rarely satisfied, he 

[141] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

parted from Laban and removed to another 
section of the country. 

Apparently he did not employ his new op- 
portunities and increased wealth in behalf 
of others nor for any other purpose than the 
realization of personal aggrandizement. He 
had at that period made little or no progress 
in the conquest of self. The resistless course 
of events, however, soon opened a new chapter 
in his experience which proved more interest- 
ing and spiritually valuable than any that 
had preceded. Domestic afflictions, as in 
the experience of many others, followed in 
quick succession. His daughter became a 
victim of lust, his sons were murdered, and 
the wife of his love soon died. These were 
great and unforeseen calamities, but through 
such misfortunes his long night of darkness 
was followed by a morn of light. His spirit, 
awakened, burst the bonds with which he 
had bound himself in prison, an apparent 
willing and self-satisfied occupant, though his 
bodily temple had in reality been fashioned 
by material influences, and reflected subju- 
gation to its environments. After personal 

[142] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

bereavments, he imperceptibly began to di- 
vine the spiritual meaning of life, to sense 
the influence of delicate vibrations of spirit, 
which awakened consciousness and revealed 
the important fact that man is something 
more than an earthly Jacob, and that he 
ought and could escape from conditions of 
darkness and enter upon the life of spiritual 
peace. Through domestic sorrow, he thus 
passed the crisis of life. One may well imag- 
ine that there was great joy in the heavens, 
wonderful songs of rejoicing vibrating to the 
remotest limits of space, on account of this 
change of vision, this new resurrection. Upon 
that important occasion an Exalted Spirit 
appeared unto him, and announced, "Thy 
name shall not be called any more Jacob, but 
Israel shall be thy name." 

After that meeting, the mystical meaning 
of which we trust will inspire the reader, 
God is said to have made the promise: "A 
nation and a company of nations, shall be of 
thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins"; 
and in honor of that sacred promise Israel 
set up a pillar of stone and called the place 

[143] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

Beth-el. Near to this spot Benjamin was 
born and RacheFs soul departed (Gen. 35: 18). 
Evidence is furnished in the above Scriptural 
record that the writer believed that some- 
thing passed away from the physical body 
at death. The place to which it departed, 
or the after conditions of the soul, were not 
defined. We are left in darkness both as to 
current belief concerning its powers or its 
future destiny. It is doubtful if any one 
at that time entertained well-defined views 
upon the subject. The idea seems to have 
been that the soul departed at death — at 
least it is so stated concerning Rachel. 



[144] 



XIX 

"Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and 
cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil 
beast hath devoured him : and we shall see what will 
become of his dreams." — Genesis 37: 20. 

It is recorded that one of the brothers 
(Reuben) strenuously objected to the taking 
of the life of Joseph, saying: "Shed no blood." 
"Let us not kill him." "Cast him into this 
pit in the wilderness." His advice prevailed, 
and Joseph was soon after delivered to a band 
of Midianite merchants and by them sold to 
the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. To 
the credit of Reuben it is said that he designed 
to rescue Joseph and to restore him to his 
father, though he subsequently concurred 
in representing unto Israel that Joseph had 
been destroyed by beasts. 

In that age it was customary for trading 
bands of merchantmen, when passing through 
the country, to exchange articles of merehan- 

[145] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

dise brought from the far East for the products 
of the more northern and western countries, 
receiving in payment any sort of convertible 
assets. Young men physically qualified for 
soldiers were sometimes exchanged in such 
barter, and subsequently sold for service in 
the Egyptian army. In a transaction of 
this sort Joseph was the victim. After a 
period of about two years of army service, 
his medial gifts became known and attracted 
the attention of certain persons in public 
authority, and were reported unto Pharaoh, 
who ordered that he should be transferred 
to his own household. Not long thereafter 
he conferred upon him the chief direction of 
his domestic and personal affairs. As has 
been related concerning him, he correctly 
defined the meaning of certain visions shown 
in dreams unto the king which the Egyp- 
tian soothsayers had failed to translate. 
Many subsequent visions, not of record, were 
also correctly interpreted by him, which se- 
cured the confidence of those to whom they 
referred. All these things were quite possi- 
ble, as he possessed a nature sensitive to spirit- 

[146] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

ual impressions, and was under the special 
guidance of an intelligence in the astral state. 
Previously, when a youth, he had by his 
revelations incurred the hatred of his elder 
brothers, as they understood not the nature 
of his spiritual attractions. Being the younger 
son, born of the beloved Rachel, he was 
specially dear to the heart of Israel. He 
was the heir of a spiritual union in contra- 
distinction to the material aspect of the rela- 
tionship which so long continued with Leah. 
The other sons of Jacob attracted influences 
that limit subjects. They were neither much 
above nor much below the plane of their 
companions and are remembered only as 
brothers of Joseph and sons of Jacob. Very 
few had realized that plane of spiritual con- 
sciousness, which, once attained, enables one 
to serve as an instrument of the spirit world. 
Joseph, both on account of his mystical traits 
of character and sensitive physical brain, 
could serve in such relation. Independently 
of the circumstances which afterwards led 
his brothers to Egypt, and the opportunity 
thereby afforded him for manifesting the love 

[147] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

which returns good for evil, his life in Egypt 
was fruitful of important results. It was 
in consequence of his revelations of coming 
years of famine that provision was made for 
the sustenance of the Egyptian nation. That 
he was used by intelligences whose purposes 
were beneficent is evident. His kindness 
towards those who had despitefully used him, 
and his subsequent labors in behalf of the 
Jewish immigrants to Egypt, confirms our 
estimate of his character. 

At first in the Egyptian army, and after- 
wards in the household of Pharaoh, he im- 
pressed upon those in other positions his 
spiritual supremacy. Nor was he deficient in 
that wisdom which perceives and applies to 
profitable use the opportunities of life. He 
soon recognized certain advantages possible 
of attainment in Egypt. It was through 
his influence that the rite of circumcision, 
long previously practiced by the Egyptians, 
was adopted by the Jews. By this and other 
conformities, he secured many important 
privileges for his race. Among the many ad- 
vantages secured for it were certain valuable 

[148] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

civil rights, through the exercise of which the 
Jews, while not in every respect vested with 
powers of citizenship, were no longer accounted 
alien. Individual members of his race could 
thereafter hold the fees of land. They could 
enjoy and teach without restraint their reli- 
gious beliefs; they were permitted to enter 
the military service, and to command sol- 
diers of their own race, and did, in exceptional 
cases, lead the Egyptians in battle. Their 
chief men were admitted to the councils of 
those concerned in the determination of im- 
portant matters. Certain Jews had made 
important discoveries of the curative properties 
of particular substances, such as roots, herbs, 
mineral salts, etc., which they taught the 
Egyptians how to use. A practical race be- 
came, in fact, the teacher of a mystical one. 
The Egyptian nation had long been accounted 
the most learned of the world in respect of 
speculative wisdom, but needed instruction, 
such as was imparted by the Jews. The Jews, 
always apt to learn, were soon beneficiaries 
of many beneficent arrangements inaugu- 
rated under the direction of Joseph. Some 

[149] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

learned the principles of chemistry and 
acquired proficiency therein, and according 
to the Egyptian wisdom of that age, made 
progress in astronomy and astrology. The 
Jewish priests associated upon equal terms 
with those of the Egyptian hierarchy, were 
protected by government, absolved from 
taxation, and allowed to collect tithes 
upon certain lands, to the extent of one 
third of the products and income thereof. 
They established various independent orders, 
and freely enjoyed the privileges pertaining 
thereto. 

We may trace all these, and many other 
advantages subsequently obtained, to the en- 
lightened policy of Joseph. Neither race 
was permitted to interfere with the religious 
customs of the other, though naturally the 
Egyptians regarded the Jews as infidels, who 
rejected the adoration of images, by them- 
selves endowed with mystic powers. An 
idol graven in the form of an ox, a symbol of 
strength to the Egyptian, never very strongly 
appealed to the reason er the imagination of 

the Jews. 

[150] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

Joseph attempted the introduction in Jewish 
settlements of certain Egyptian sanitary 
regulations, but his efforts in that direction 
were not very well appreciated, though 
worthy of adoption, as their practical value 
was very great, and subsequently recognized 
by many Jews, who endorsed and enforced 
similar arrangements but in a partial way 
only. At an important crisis in Jewish 
affairs, long afterward, under the direction 
of Moses, they were without essential 
change, under stringent regulations to the 
great benefit of all concerned, made posi- 
tive. 

The Jewish priests first learned from the 
Egyptians certain doctrines, the basis of the 
trinitarian teaching concerning the divine 
expression. Osiris represented the creative 
principle, Isis the principle of fecundity, 
Horus, son of Osiris and Isis. From such 
early teachings have originated many other 
dogmas since taught in various parts of the 
world. 

One of the principal objects of worship by 
the Egyptians was Ptah, the unknown God. 

[151] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

They were thus unconsciously evolving the 
idea of the existence of an Infinite Intelli- 
gence, and impressing their discoveries upon 
the Jewish consciousness, though from the 
beginning the Jews inclined to the acceptance 
of monotheistic concepts. The seers, or 
priests, of Egypt served as the mediums 
through whom revelations of laws regulating 
the civil order were received. A reason 
may therefore be said to have existed why 
Joseph desired that qualified persons of his 
own race should study the occult myster- 
ies of the Egyptian priesthood. He was, in 
fact, divinely directed in this matter, for the 
wisdom so obtained was subsequently em- 
ployed by Moses for the general good. It 
enabled him to establish the Jewish hierarchy, 
which greatly assisted in the maintenance of 
order, and in the execution of required regu- 
lations to maintain the government which he 
instituted. 

We should do a great injustice to the sub- 
ject of this memoir were we to omit a refer- 
ence to an important scheme of national 
utility perfected during the period of his con- 

[152] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

trol in public affairs, viz. the irrigation of 
theretofore unproductive lands, by surplus 
waters conducted through canals and used 
for the growth of crops. In a limited and 
rather unsuccessful way such works had been 
previously undertaken, but had never proved 
practically available for the accomplishment 
of important results. Many generations have 
since been greatly benefited through his fore- 
sight in these matters. In a period of fifteen 
years he increased the productive capacity 
of Egyptian lands over one fourth. The 
opportunities created for the acquirement 
of wealth, through such and cognate enter- 
prises, coupled with the fact that consider- 
able liberty for the Jews then obtained, largely 
influenced subsequent Jewish immigration 
into Egypt. The immediate family of Israel 
and the descendants thereof were not the 
only ones who came hither, for the knowledge 
of the success of those who first settled there 
gradually extended throughout all Syria, 
and many other Jews came, some of whom 
afterwards attained great prosperity. The 
privilege of returning home from Egypt upon 

[153] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

payment of a certain tax prevailed during 
the administration of Joseph. This regulation 
permitted many who had been successful to 
leave the country when so impelled. 



[154] 



XX 

" And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid 
it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and 
his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his 
hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn." 

— Genesis 48 : 14. 

"And he blessed Joseph and said, God, before 
whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the 
God which fed me all my life long unto this day." 

— Ibid. 48:15. 

"The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, 
bless the lads ; and let my name be named on them, 
and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac ; and 
let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the 
earth." — Ibid. 48: 16. 

It is possible to attain such spiritual realiza- 
tion that one may perceive the nature or 
quality of the auric emanations, or psychic 
atmosphere, which envelops another. This 
involves the use of spiritual sight. It is often 

the experience of those who have made prog- 

[155] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

ress that with the passing of some of the 
physical senses corresponding organs of the 
astral body become sensitive to outward im- 
pressions. The individual suffering through 
failure of sight of the physical eye sometimes 
develops a spiritual counterpart, — the Divine 
Opulence, as it were, in a measure supplying 
temporary deficiencies of the physical organs. 
Though "the eyes of Israel were dim for age, 
so that he could not see," he was able wit- 
tingly to guide his own hands when the two 
sons of Joseph were placed before him. 
Spiritual sight may have enabled him to direct 
them aright, though not according to the desire 
and expectation of Joseph, as he bestowed the 
chief blessing upon the younger son. Thereby 
Israel announced the relative positions that 
each would thereafter occupy in Jewish history. 
He invoked the angel, through whose ministra- 
tions he had been redeemed, to inspire and 
bless the lads, and in prophetic vision beheld 
a multitude of their descendants in the midst 
of the earth. An important part of the cere- 
mony was the recognition of the great benefits 

which Israel had derived from the good angel, 

[156] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

which had redeemed himself from all evil, 
transformed the worldly and self-seeking Jacob, 
through the realization of spiritual harmo- 
nies, unto the Israel of God. Now, about 
to leave the material vestments and don a 
celestial robe, — indicative of a change from 
darkness to light, — and mindful of the an- 
gel through whose ministrations he had real- 
ized so many blessings, he invoked in behalf 
of the sons of his beloved Joseph, the same 
continuing care, protection, and spiritual 
direction which had been bestowed upon him- 
self, through which he had been rescued from 
darkness and resurrected through spiritual 
illumination. 

His mission accomplished, the earth life of 
Israel now approached its termination. As 
Jacob, he had outworked the material karma 
of life, and as Israel had found the Divine 
Self. We have no records of his belief con- 
cerning a future existence, nor do we know 
any traditions that he held views relating to 
it. It is not certain that the eternality of life 
had in that age any advocates. Many of the 

patriarchs, however, did possess certain spiritual 

[157] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

powers not dependent upon belief. The expe- 
riences of this man show that his spiritual 
consciousness was awakened in the evening 
of life. 

Through the ministry of his good angel, 
divine intuitions were unfolded and a won- 
derful spiritual transformation accomplished; 
the man of affairs became the incarnation of 
truth, and has passed down the ages an illus- 
trious example of the power of spirit to change 
the purposes and objects of life and to reform 
those who, in the beginning, overestimating the 
value of unrealities, have temporarily silenced 
the diviner and nobler intuitions of spirit. 



[158] 



XXI 

Long after the death of Joseph, a new king 
sat upon the throne of the Pharaohs, one who 
knew not Joseph, who desired to alter the con- 
ditions under which the Jews had prospered. 
He determined that they should henceforth be 
subjected to cruel burdens, made to serve 
hard taskmasters, deprived of the civil rights 
of worship and the privileges theretofore ex- 
ercised of erecting altars to their God. Their 
children were to be no longer permitted to 
bathe in public places. When allowed to 
learn anything, instruction was to be given 
in the Egyptian language, and, as the prin- 
ciple teaching of those days was for the pur- 
pose of inculcating reverence for the Egyp- 
tian gods, in whom the Jews did not believe, 
one will readily perceive that the enforcement 
of such a regulation was tantamount to con- 
signing all the Jewish children to states of 

[159] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

perpetual ignorance. No Jew was allowed to 
teach his own language, and most of them 
were not familiar with any other. Decrees 
were issued which forbade marriage between 
the two races. Real estate owned or occupied 
by Jews could not descend to their families, 
but upon death of the owners thereof es- 
cheated to the State. No Jew could there- 
after hold any office of honor or profit. None 
could use any of the precious metals, gold or 
silver, nor gems of value, in the construction 
of their altars. Not one of the race was per- 
mitted to own or wear robes of silk or of 
material of finer texture than the ordinary 
simple garbs of common laborers. Those 
infirm, and from any cause unable to work, 
could not apply for the distribution of food 
in times of distress from the public grana- 
ries, which the unrequited labors of their race 
had filled. No Jew could ride in any public 
conveyance, nor could inscription upon ban- 
ners relating to Jewish victories or other his- 
torical events be carried in public processions. 
All such and many other privileges were com- 
mon under Joseph. It may well be inferred 

[160] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

that conditions of absolute slavery and depri- 
vation of ordinary rights created a state of 
unrest and great dissatisfaction among those 
subject to such persecutions. 

Previous to the death of Joseph it was 
not impossible for Jews in the Egyptian 
army to obtain commands over soldiers of 
their own race. Not so, however, under the 
new king. Those who had attained to prom- 
inence in the military forces were compelled 
to accept positions in menial occupations and 
frequently to serve the Egyptians as body- 
guard servants and as common soldiers with- 
out pay. The lot of the Jews was indeed 
hard, apparently without any prospect of relief. 

The day, however, was approaching when 
the shackles of servitude were to be unloosed 
and every bondman given the right of emi- 
gration. 

A belief had obtained that Jehovah would 
restore unto the race its liberty. The Infi- 
nite Spirit had through the Law provided 
that a deliverer should in due season arise. 
The Jews had never lost faith in the final 
destiny of the race, and implicitly believed 

[161] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

the promises made unto Abraham. Many 
were looking for some miraculous interven- 
tion, not for freedom through the agency 
of any great leader. But an instrument for 
their liberation had been born of the oppressed 
race, nurtured by the daughter of a king 
whose successor in administration inaugu- 
rated or at least permitted the atrocities only 
a few of which we refer to here. He per- 
ceived the duplicities of the oppressors of his 
people. He was constantly led and impressed 
by the higher orders of spiritual intelligences, 
and implicitly believed in the righteousness 
of the cause which he espoused, and obeyed 
the instructions of those in illumined states 
of being, where the formulation of needful 
provisions always precedes action and insures 
success. A giant among men, intellectually, 
and morally superior to any other man of his 
age, he was in every respect qualified to ac- 
complish the Herculean task of the restora- 
tion of his people to the enjoyment of liberty 
under the forms of Law. 

The establishment of a hierarchical govern- 
ment, to include the essential principles 

[162] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

of freedom, and insure better conditions than 
any which had obtained under the Egyp- 
tians, was the purpose and mission of Moses. 
He was in no sense a self-seeker. The course 
of events had inspired a strong desire among 
the leading Jews for a change in the general 
conditions of the race. Previous to his ap- 
pearance the man for the occasion had been 
wanting, and they knew not who he should 
be, nor from whence he should come, nor what 
would or should be his qualifications for com- 
mand. Indeed, faith in the appearance of 
such a person had been well-nigh lost, but the 
One Spirit, concerning whose infinities of wis- 
dom and power the Jews of that age were 
in apparent ignorance, had, unknown to their 
limited perceptions, provided through His Per- 
fect Law for every contingency and necessity. 

That an instrument for the administration 
of justice, and the promotion of the welfare 
of that oppressed race, should at the appro- 
priate time appear, was in perfect harmony 
with that Law, an orderly sequence of a 
needful requirement. 

The swing of the pendulum, which at first 
[163] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

only describes the arc of desire for liberty, 
may finally describe a section of the circle 
large enough to include the temporary domin- 
ion of license, the antithesis of orderly free- 
dom, so the leader in any great movement 
must needs be, for the success and protec- 
tion of those engaged therein, a person of un- 
usual discretion, sound judgment, and great 
probity. 

Moses, who appears to have been incar- 
nated for a special purpose, possessed all the 
requisite qualifications for leadership, for the 
formulation of laws, and the establishment 
of provisional means for their enforcement. 
The times and the situation demanded relief 
from many heavy burdens, but the heart of 
Pharaoh was obdurate, not amenable to rea- 
son. Confident in the continuance of his 
power, believing not in the God of the Jews, 
having command of the civil and military 
authority of the state, Pharaoh rejected with 
derisive scorn every overture from those by 
whose degradation he and his predecessors 
had so long materially prospered. He could 
not weigh, as in a balance, arguments based 

[164] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

upon moral and spiritual facts. He had been 
trained in the school of exoteric phenomena, 
and could only be influenced by those who 
had acquired apparent control over natural 
elements. Then, as now, the atmospheres 
contained counterparts of those things which 
we behold manifested as objects of sight, but 
only he who had attained to the higher spirit- 
ual correspondences could, for the purpose of the 
promotion of great causes, invoke the mighty 
power of those who had attained real con- 
trol over elemental forces. In the long eons of 
ages but few indeed upon this earth have reached 
to that high plane — yet a few have attained, 
as witness, Moses, Buddha, and the Christ. 

While we make due allowance for Oriental 
hyperbole, and the natural exaggerations of 
ancient legends collected long subsequent to 
the actual events described, the accomplished 
results remain as facts of history. How were 
they wrought? It is possible for us to dis- 
cover the Law, and in such discovery learn 
more of the divine order. 

In our own country, in the century passed, 

many now living have witnessed and parti- 

[165] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

cipated in a long terrific struggle, the main 
object of which, on the one side, was to free 
from bondage millions of a race whose unre- 
quited labor and sufferings were a reproach 
to any people, and the elevation of whose 
condition demanded and justified sacrifices, 
howsoever great. 

While the conditions in this country and 
those in ancient Egypt were not parallel, the 
spiritual principles involved were similar. 

Bearing both in mind, let us gratefully rec- 
ognize the truth that the Infinite Spirit, whose 
Perfect Law forever prevails in the final out- 
come of all affairs, in each instance decreed 
the accomplishment of justice and the resto- 
ration to freedom of those who so long had 
suffered in bondage to tryanny, subject to 
those whose moral perceptions were dulled, 
who were protected by statutes or regulations 
enforced for the purpose of perpetuating 
selfish greed and unholy lust for authority 
over those unable to guard personal rights 
and prerogatives, which inhere in nature and 
ought to be everywhere respected. 

[166] 



XXII 

Moses was an inspired leader and execu- 
tive agent of those in the higher spheres who 
had determined the release of the Jews from 
bondage, a man far greater than those who 
have pronounced him a mere expert in Egyp- 
tian magic would have us believe. A study 
of his character, and of the results accom- 
plished by him, reveal the fact that he had 
attained, previous to the first emigration of 
Jews from Egypt, spiritual realizations supe- 
rior to those ever acquired by any magician. 
We need not seek far to discover the causes 
that limited all persons belonging to the lat- 
ter class, and prevented them from acquiring 
complete dominion over the elements. We 
have but to know the sources from which 
each derived inspiration and cooperative as- 
sistance in order to understand why the sooth- 
sayers of Pharaoh were unable to successfully 

[167] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

imitate Moses. There were among the Egyp- 
tian magicians those who had attained vary- 
ing degrees of proficiency, some who were 
accounted adepts, who had realized certain 
stages of spiritual progress, others who pos- 
sessed some occult wisdom and understood 
how to produce phenomena through the evo- 
cation of elemental intelligences. The latter 
were a class by themselves, which rarely gave 
public exhibitions. The third, or lower, class 
included those who relied upon deception of 
the senses. They could be seen in the streets 
performing for the amusement of the masses. 
Those belonging to the first class, generally 
regarded as possessing special gifts, were 
highly esteemed, and received honors and 
support from the State. They were usually 
priests, often advanced astronomical students, 
and some of them proficient in other sciences, 
all more or less learned in relation to spiritual 
laws. 

When we consider that most men now live 
in atmospheres permeated by many discordant 
vibrations, and that they are subjects of all 
sorts of retarding influences, and that only 

[168] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

certain ones are specially sensitive to the finer 
etheric vibrations, we shall not marvel that 
many of those accounted wise in the earlier 
periods of human self-consciousness misinter- 
preted true spiritual manifestations, not know- 
ing the Law, and ascribed all phenomena to 
demoniac or magical influence. Upon such a 
plane we find Pharaoh. The undeveloped in- 
telligences,, often called elementals, who have 
not advanced very far in the scale of wisdom, 
were then, as now, useful factors in the eco- 
nomics of nature when under the wise direc- 
tion of those in superior states. In the age 
of Pharaoh they were often employed in 
magic demonstrations, and those sensitive to 
higher influences could command their coopera- 
tion for beneficent ends, except when they 
surrendered the self to their obsessions. When 
submitting to their unrestrained control, 
moral degradation and other dire results 
followed, for such has ever been the Law. 
Many Egyptians who had inherited natural 
aptitudes, and had been educated in occult 
secret practices, were known as soothsayers, 
and some advanced ones of that order some- 

[169] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

times, under favoring conditions, enlisted the 
aid of intelligences in spirit life, who had 
attained to states of considerable progress, and 
thus became instruments for the promotion of 
many good causes, but those upon the lower 
planes of expression were limited to the per- 
formance of mysterious acts. We may here 
state that later distinctions known as black 
and white magic were not then understood. 

We have deemed it advisable to record these 
facts in order that the student may under- 
stand what probably was the first impression 
of Pharaoh when Aaron cast the rod before 
him and produced a serpent. To him there 
appeared nothing remarkable in the perform- 
ance, as his own wonder-workers could do 
likewise. They also could cast down rods 
and bring forth serpents. A stronger evi- 
dence of the power of the Jehovah of the 
Jews was required in order to bring convic- 
tion to his mind. The exhibition, however, 
was not without result; it served a purpose. 
Previously the higher demonstrations of 
magic power had been confined to certain 
orders, the most expert of whom were in the 

[170] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

service of Pharaoh. The achievement of 
Aaron came as a surprise, an unexpected 
revelation. Pharaoh suspected that the 
most carefully guarded secrets of his magi- 
cians had been unlawfully revealed. It ex- 
cited anger and hardened his heart. Had 
not the Babylonians, Parthians, Chaldeans, 
Atlanteans ; Persians, and others from near 
and far witnessed, absorbed in wonder and 
amazement, the performances of his magi- 
cians ? Had they not declared the likeness 
thereof could not be found upon the earth? 
We can well believe that wrath was aroused 
against the Jews, and especially against Moses 
and Aaron, and that he refused to hear their 
petition. Pharaoh was living upon that plane 
of existence in which the selfish instincts pre- 
dominate. He desired to know nothing con- 
cerning the religion of the Jews, which was the 
nearest approach of that age to actual mono- 
theistic concepts, the antithesis of Egyptian 
teachings. Nor did it comport with his in- 
terests that the demands of Moses should be 
granted. 

The situation soon demanded more convinc- 
[171] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

ing evidences of the supremacy of spirit. That 
he might surely impress the mind of Pharaoh, 
the spirit of Moses, after he had fasted and 
prayed for spiritual assistance, was taken into 
the third and fourth spheres. It was there 
revealed unto him that provisions had already 
been made for the delivery of the Jews from 
bondage. He was there taught the prin- 
ciples of the Law relating to spirit control 
over material conditions, afterwards so sig- 
nally illustrated by many physical phenomena. 
He was also upon that and subsequent oc- 
casions instructed in spiritual methods and 
forms of evocation, in what manner he might 
seek and obtain special aid in behalf of the 
cause in which he was engaged. 

Here let us state that in all these varied 
spiritual experiences there was no deroga- 
tion of the principles of the Law. The Law 
was then, as now, omnipotent throughout the 
whole universe of spirit. Always, under suit- 
able conditions, the spirit in man has been 
able to pass out of its material body and enter 
celestial spheres, going wheresoever its natural 
attractions lead. Similar experiences have 

[172] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

been realized by some in our day, and the sub- 
stantiated facts pertaining thereto have re- 
ceived the recognition of many students and 
have been confirmed by abundant evidence. 
In most cases memory does not recall spirit- 
realm experiences, the usual purpose being 
personal education in preparation for future 
activities. There are, however, sometimes 
other objects to be served, and in such cases 
one can recall circumstances and profit by the 
practical object lessons impressed. 

In the instance of Moses, not only the in- 
dividual, but the more important interests of 
a race were concerned. Direct transmission 
of celestial instruction was in several instances 
substituted for the usual vibratory methods 
employed in intercommunication between 
the two states of being. His special expe- 
riences were like unto personal instructions of 
an executive agent of the Law unto a chosen 
leader. Probably no other interviews so mem- 
orable have ever been held between intelli- 
gences of the celestial realms and the spirit 
of man temporarily absent from its physical 
frame. The importance of the interests iri- 

[173] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

volved were well designed to impress the spirit 
in such manner as to preclude the loss from 
memory of a single item of the subject-matter 
in relation to which it had been instructed. 

Not only was the political liberty of the 
Jews involved, but the principle of spiritual 
control in material affairs, through human 
agency, was to be effectively demonstrated. 
A tiny spark in human consciousness, des- 
tined finally to control the fate of nations and 
to conserve the welfare of the world, was about 
to reflect its lustrous light. It was therefore 
entirely appropriate that the revelation of 
the means for the accomplishment of a design 
so important should be received directly from 
intelligences in spheres where truth is the law 
of being, and that the relation of causes of 
action to results should be so clearly defined 
and correlated as to preclude any possibility 
of error. 

We would direct the reader's special atten- 
tion to the spiritual nature of the instruction 
received by Moses, and invite his considera- 
tion of the thought that such a corresponden- 
tial preparation should and would result in 

[174] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

higher manifestations than could be attained 
by any magician whose abilities were limited 
to correspondences with those in the lower 
conditions of excarnate life. Such persons 
could not successfully imitate the phenomena 
produced by one whose spiritual instructions 
had been received from an archangel, an 
intelligent and perfect exponent of spiritual 
laws. His natural impulses were spiritual, 
and in unison with the desires of those intelli- 
gences who then held advanced relations in 
celestial realms. 

It is contrary to reason to assume that he, 
then a denizen of earth, confined to the con- 
ditions of physical life, could have produced, 
unaided, the physical phenomena ascribed to 
him, as recorded in Exodus, Chapters 7 
and 11 inclusive. We, however, do here 
state that as the spirit in man advances from 
one realization to another, it gradually, and 
imperceptibly through cooperation with celes- 
tial teachers, acquires spiritual powers, and 
may use them in proper ways limited only by 
attained progress. Such realizations are not 
subject to delegation, nor can they be em- 

[175] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

ployed in connection with the astral orders 
without peril. 

Moses was an agent, or medium, of spirit for 
the transmission and transmutation of celes- 
tial conceptions into visible results. Some 
material conditions were favorable to the 
success of the exodus cause. A season of 
severe drought preceded the plagues ; the 
streams had become polluted and were without 
sufficient force to convey to the sea the accu- 
mulations usually disposed of in such manner. 
Disease had spread over the land, doubtless 
increased in severity through insufficient nutri- 
tion and inattention to sanitary laws. Then 
the violated Law, like unto a Nemesis of Ven- 
geance, demanded its tribute, and the ele- 
ments of nature were the instruments through 
which its mandates were enforced. 

All the plagues recorded, and many others 
not recorded, naturally excited the hatred of 
the masses against the Jews, and when they 
increased in severity, the fears of the Egyp- 
tians were aroused, and their sufferings charged 
against that Jehovah unto whom the Jews 

attributed supreme attributes. 

[176] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

Then, in a superstitious age, before the art of 
printing and other means enjoyed at the present 
time for the dissemination of general knowledge 
had been discovered, the demand for the release 
and expulsion of the Jews and their God from 
Egypt became general and irresistibly expressed. 

Nothing was done by the Jews to allay the 
fear and terror of the Egyptians, and in order 
to increase the general importunity for their 
own release some may have actively concurred 
in the thought held by the Egyptian masses that 
Jehovah was indeed the cause of all their woes. 

The conjunction of physical conditions and 
the superstitious fears created thereby mate- 
rially assisted those engaged in the exodus, 
but the victory would never have been achieved 
through such causes alone. The necessities 
of the hour demanded the exercise of highest 
spiritual wisdom, divine intuition, and leader- 
ship of the most intelligent sort. Moses had 
received the needed spiritual preparation, and 
was in fact and indeed the heaven-sent mes- 
senger of the hour. We hope to record more 
in relation to this man and of the cause which 

he espoused against apparently hopeless odds. 

[177] 



XXIII 

" And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in 
a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush : and he 
looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and 
the bush was not consumed." — Exodus 3: 2. 

u And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to 
see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, 
and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I." 

— Ibid. 3 : 4. 

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: 
and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children 
of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." 

— Ibid. 3 : 14. 

The Jews while in servitude during the life 
of Joseph had in many ways materially pros- 
pered, but under changed conditions the 
thoughtful ones perceived that their former 
relations with the Egyptians could never be 
restored. Many were hoping that some great 
leader would appear, one whose control of 
affairs should not only enable them to enjoy 
spiritual liberty, but would also restore unto 

[178] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

them opportunities to realize the rewards of 
industry. Moses, in some respects, was re- 
garded by them as a well-qualified leader, but 
he had previously been chiefly occupied in 
personal matters, and further experience seemed 
to them a needful preparation for so large a 
field of activity. The appearance of the 
angel of the Lord unto him in the manner re- 
corded was well designed to awaken spiritual 
consciousness, to concentrate his thought upon 
spiritual issues, and in other respects so pre- 
pare him that spirit intelligences could cooper- 
ate and further to successful accomplishment 
the liberation of his race. That he might 
the more perfectly receive important celes- 
tial revelation, he was led by a spirit intelli- 
gence to seek a retreat upon Mount Horeb, 
where, separated from every opposing vibra- 
tory influence, needful instructions for the 
success of the cause could be distinctly im- 
pressed upon his consciousness. 

In the early periods, as now, special condi- 
tions were required for the maintenance of 
relations between those in the subjective and 
objective states of being. The communication 

[179] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

as we have it recorded was but one of a series 
subsequently received by Moses, which in- 
spired him to adopt successful measures to 
overcome numerous obstacles which arose pre- 
vious to and during the exodus. 

He had been selected by intelligences who 
well knew his great capacity for executive 
achievements, and as the cause required celes- 
tial cooperation, it was in perfect accord with 
what we know in relation to spirit methods 
of preparation to meet exigencies that he 
first needed special instructions from those 
in higher spheres in order to successfully 
direct affairs. We may therefore accept the 
record that "The angel of the Lord appeared 
unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst 
of a bush." Such a phenomenon would natu- 
rally arrest the attention of any thoughtful 
person, even though he should know it to be 
perfectly within the scope of spirit possibility. 

Many investigators of the present day 
have witnessed evidences of spirit control 
over the elements of nature, have seen physical 
forms defined, and have heard the spirit 
through such forms converse with those now 

[180] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

living upon the earth, all to the physical senses 
apparently real. To such the manifestation 
of control over the elements of nature by the 
higher intelligences, illustrated by a burning 
bush, will not appear extraordinary. It was, 
however, an object lesson worthy of record. 
Instructions from an inhabitant of the spirit 
world, able to furnish such convincing evidence 
of control of the elements, might well be re- 
ceived and accepted as true. In a spiritual 
sense the incident possesses special value. 

The burning bush, never consumed, signifies 
to us the indestructability, the everlasting 
life of spirit, the beacon light of consciousness, 
forever leading men into the fuller realization 
of the divine wisdom and love. 

In this connection we should remember 
that anterior to the birth of Moses, the leaders 
of the Jewish race had made but little spiritual 
progress. They had in an indefinable manner 
learned the existence of intelligences upon the 
astral planes of life, had sometimes received 
communications from such sources, believed 
the revelators to be gods, and that they 
exercised a watchful care over, and generally 

[181] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

supervised for good, their personal affairs. 
They knew not that such intelligences had once 
been denizens of earth, and but imperfectly 
reflected conditions prevailing in spheres of 
higher correspondences. The predecessors of 
Moses, some of whom had attained to wealth 
and influence, had come into spiritual corre- 
spondences with those upon lower planes of 
excarnate life, but naturally the earlier phe- 
nomena appealed only to physical senses, 
and did not relate to esoteric wisdom. Such 
experiences, however, had availed in many 
exigencies. Persons possessing such mediumistic 
gifts were highly esteemed by the masses and 
were consulted for advice and instruction in 
material affairs. 

The clouds of ignorance which had so long 
hung over the common mind were apparently 
impenetrable, but in reality the time had then 
arrived for new revelations which should prove 
of greater importance to the Jews, and subse- 
quently to other nations also, than any which 
had ever before been given unto the world. 

The revelations announced to the masses 
by Moses did not cause such unification 

[182] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

of purpose and interest among the Jews as he 
desired. It was important to establish unity 
of action before any concessions could be 
expected from Pharaoh. Against the reali- 
zation of their wishes were various opposing 
forces. Many Jews were in bonds of ignorance, 
and could not comprehend the importance 
of the great issues then formulating. Forty 
subsequent years in a wilderness of doubt and 
fear proved all too limited for the realization 
by the Jewish masses of the I AM, the God with- 
in, the Divine Consciousness, the Divine Self. 

Even the many centuries since that event 
have proved none too long for both Jew and 
Gentile to perceive the significance of the 
burning bush, and to realize the spiritual mean- 
ing of those inspirations which the phenomenon 
upon Mount Horeb first awakened in the 
consciousness of Moses. The flame there 
lighted has, however, proved inextinguishable. 
It will continue to burn until universal truth, 
love, the brotherhood of man, and the recog- 
nition of God as the All-Good and All- Wise 
shall become the realized, central fact of 
consciousness in every son of humanity. 

[183] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

The name of Moses has been rightly honored, 
for through him certain principles of equity 
were first promulgated, and man taught the 
value of law and order, the spiritual meaning 
of life, and his essential unity with the Infinite 
Intelligence, the most important fact that any 
son of humanity can know. 

As the Infinite Spirit is omnipresent, and 
is always revealed upon the plane of man's 
unfolded consciousness, and does not assume 
special, visible form, we deem it not inappro- 
priate here to state the source of the reve- 
lations made unto Moses. Led and instructed 
by the Archangel Michael, he taught his 
people the substance of the messages which 
from time to time were received from that 
source. He constantly emphasized the divine, 
regal relations of man to the higher concerns 
and duties of life. From that Archangel he 
learned many things concerning the Divine 
Principle, and realized, in consciousness, 
the presence of the I AM whose leading 
enabled him to accomplish the deliverance of 
his race from bondage. The revelations re- 
ceived were issued as commands, enforced 

[184] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

through others, and were designed to have a 
general rather than personal application, as 
conditions at first required. Through his 
influence and example a real spiritual impulse 
and desire for freedom was awakened. A few 
were prepared for his teachings, but on account 
of ignorance, superstition, selfish interests, and 
other passions, many oppositions subsequently 
arose. He was one of the most perfect instru- 
ments of spirit for the furtherance of justice 
and equity among men of his or any other 
period. 

His acts, laws, and policies were in a sense 
spiritual revelations of government, by the 
enforcement of which he practically established 
and maintained control over many discordant 
elements. The Commandments included all 
the essential principles of good government 
that the Jews were then qualified to compre- 
hend and much more than they were willing 
to practice. 



[185] 



XXIV 

The Egyptian plagues may first impress 
the reader as having been miraculous inter- 
ventions on behalf of an oppressed race, but 
as we know that all phenomena are results of 
natural causes, we should seek the discovery of 
the Law, and through knowledge of its provi- 
sions learn whether the occurrences related were 
in fact real or merely symbolic allegories re- 
corded for purposes of spiritual instruction. 

That the reader may better understand the 
situation at that time, we will refer to some 
of the conditions which confronted Moses. 
He had first to deal with Pharaoh, an obsti- 
nate, material, and suspicious ruler, surrounded 
by many evil counselors, who, like himself, 
delighted in magical effects but really believed 
little outside the plane of their own objective 
visions. He was so distrustful of men generally 
that he reluctantly confided in any one, even in 

[186] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

his tax gatherers, for the collection of the means 
to support a gaudy magnificence of state, or 
in his soldiers, for the defense of his country in 
times of peril. He did, however, thoroughly 
believe in the venality of human nature. 

There were then in Egypt no statesmen in 
the modern sense of that term. Those who 
had acquired learning were usually priests 
connected with the hierarchy and under special 
vows, — a class, not so much concerned in 
political affairs, as in the propagation of their 
beliefs, and in astronomical research. Some of 
them, however, occasionally exerted important 
influence, especially in the settlement of matters 
which pertained to the hierarchy. 

The astrologers and soothsayers constituted 
separate classes, though but little scientific 
progress had been achieved by either. The 
leaders of those orders were renowned in magi- 
cal arts and practices, and had acquired great 
influence at the court of Pharaoh. The most 
proficient were mediums or instruments of 
intercommunication between those in the 
physical life and those upon the astral planes 

of existence. Climatic conditions favored the 

[187] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

development of such correspondences. They 
often exhibited before Pharaoh and his Court, 
for the amusement of prominent persons who 
came hither from other lands. 

The desire for spiritual wisdom had not 
been awakened in the hearts of Egyptians 
who occupied positions of trust and responsi- 
bility. The king himself was attracted by 
performances in pantomime and legerdemain. 
Before such a person Moses was compelled to 
present his cause and to attempt the almost 
impossible task of converting one who had 
prejudged the case. Under such prevailing 
influences one might hardly have expected 
concessions of any value, and certainly would 
have been surprised should such a king have 
perceived the force of reasons based upon 
moral issues. Religious rites and practices 
separated the Jews from the Egyptians 
quite as much as other racial differences. 
The prejudices of Pharaoh were against 
Moses. How could it be otherwise with 
one interested only in exoteric phenomena? 
"My soothsayers are mighty men indeed, 
canst thou do likewise?" explained the sit- 

[188] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

uation. One can readily conceive what his 
ideas may have been. "For they cast down 
every man his rod and they became serpents, 
but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods." 
Through that phenomenon, Aaron illustrated 
the fact that the greater ever includes the 
less, and that he who has attained the higher 
realizations of spirit may command the lower 
forces, and direct the elementaries upon all 
their planes of manifestation. Is it won- 
derful that Moses, having received spiritual 
instruction from an archangel and other ce- 
lestial teachers, should have been able to 
accomplish all and more than the soothsayers 
of Pharaoh could do ? The duplication of the 
magical feats of the soothsayers but served to 
harden the heart of the Egyptian monarch, 
and to increase his natural hatred of Moses 
and Aaron ; for he reasoned that they had in 
some unknown manner obtained a knowledge 
of secrets supposed to be exclusively within 
the ken of his magicians. Of necessity, higher 
phenomena would be required before a stub- 
born ruler would grant rightful requests 

made in behalf of an oppressed race. He 

[189] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

could neither comprehend an abstract prin- 
ciple, nor draw a logical deduction from an 
occult phenomenon. Living upon the plane 
of the material, he could not perceive that 
the Infinite Spirit manifesting through Law 
was the only positive force. The swift cur- 
rent of events was, however, soon destined to 
open his mind to the fact of the existence of 
certain spiritual realities never before revealed 
in his consciousness. Evidence after evidence, 
following in quick succession, finally created 
such fear and consternation in the mind 
of Pharaoh as to cause him to reluctantly 
assent to the demands made by Moses in 
behalf of his people. At that time there 
were about one hundred thousand Jews in 
Egypt, nearly all of whom had become more 
or less interested in the emigration scheme, 
of which Moses was the chief leader. The 
actual number of men enlisted in the first 
pilgrimage of discovery numbered not in 
excess of two hundred and fifty persons. The 
subsequent migrations were numerous, cover- 
ing a period of about forty years. 

[190] 



XXV 

" And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest 
to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those 
wonders before Pharaoh I have put in thine hand : 
but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the 
people go." — Exodus 4: 21. 

"And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I 
should obey his voice to let Israel go ? I know not 
the Lord, neither will I let Israel go." — Ibid. 5: 2. 

The divine consciousness enables one to 
judge righteously concerning all matters. For 
a person in whom it is a ruling principle 
all things work together for good and for 
peace, even under opposing environments. 
Doubtless some of those who were serving 
hard taskmasters, when Moses revealed unto 
the Jews his purpose, had made but little 
progress in spiritual understanding, and, 
knowing not that celestial assistance could 
be invoked, preferred to continue in condi- 
tions of bondage rather than join in an under- 

[191] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

taking which, if unsuccessful, would but 
serve to increase their already heavy bur- 
dens. They saw no rift in the clouds, nor 
caught any scintillations of that light des- 
tined soon to illumine the Jewish horizon. 
A few had long hopefully looked for the ap- 
pearance of a second Joseph, who would in 
their interests manage the affairs of another 
wiser and more liberal Pharaoh. Sustained 
from despondency by such hopes, they were 
in a sense content to endure present condi- 
tions. But the existing state was not long 
to continue. Moses had been commanded 
to go unto Pharaoh, and, through the perform- 
ance of many signs and wonders, demand 
the release of his people, though warned that 
Pharaoh's heart would be hardened against 
his entreaties. 

At this point let us consider the Perfect 
and Unchangeable Law in one of its multi- 
tude of aspects, — its manifestation of jus- 
tice. The Jews believed they owed no servi- 
tude to the Egyptians and that by two 
centuries of bondage and unrequited labors 
had many times earned freedom of which 

[192] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

they should never have been deprived. As a 
matter of fact, however, they had many things 
to learn; much more remained to be ac- 
complished, and suffering to be endured, before 
they should attain liberty. They were, how- 
ever, unconsciously preparing through the 
vicissitudes of slavery for the possession of a 
country wherein the realization of long-deferred 
hopes might become possible. 

The Egyptian masses had never shared in 
benefits derived from the unpaid services 
of the Jews. Many Egyptians dependent 
upon personal effort for subsistence had 
suffered from the competition of Jewish 
labor. Profits received from such sources 
accrued to another class, and were expended 
principally in the satisfaction of luxurious 
habits and debasing desires of the Pharaohs 
and of the officers of the Egyptian armies, 
and numerous others holding state positions, 
all combined, constituting the ruling classes 
of Egypt, who controlled its commercial, 
monetary, and domestic affairs. 

It would appear, therefore, to one not in- 
clined to study the reasons for the expression 

[193] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

of cause and effect, not given to the consider- 
ation of the deeps of political and moral 
causality, that only those Egyptians who 
had been beneficiaries under prevailing con- 
ditions, ought to have suffered penalties of 
Violated Law, which were really shared by 
all classes, regardless of persons or estate. 
Such a deduction, however, would be an in- 
correct one, and would evince but little knowl- 
edge of the nature of the Unchanging Law. 
Carried to a finality, it might destroy its uni- 
versal application, meting out to some favors, 
visiting upon others vengeance, exalting 
the importance of individuals, establishing the 
rule of partialities, completely changing the 
perfect modes of its expression. 

Illuminated intelligences execute the Law, 
and all may enjoy its benefits who live in har- 
monial relations with its provisions; but it 
does not tolerate ignorance. 

To the composite expression, evident upon 
every plane of being, each one contributes 
his quota of good or opposing influence. In 
the atmospheres adjacent to earth are the 
abodes of myriads of living souls in various 

[194] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

states of progress. They may well command 
our consideration, for influences from those 
spheres are potent factors in national and 
individual affairs. 

Pharaoh, though possibly having no real 
knowledge of a Universal Law, was, however, 
in common with all others, subject to its con- 
trol, perhaps in some respects more sensitive 
to its influence than the average of human- 
ity in his age. He began to attract many 
obstructing influences, afflictions, and physi- 
cal ills, and to suffer great mental anguish, 
— all natural penalties for violated justice, 
wrongs inflicted upon the Jews by his orders. 

We read his heart was so hardened that 
he would not let them go. Such retributions 
upon earth are but the reflections of those 
which more perceptibly reveal themselves in 
certain states of spiritual consciousness. 

The plagues were penalties previously in- 
curred, causes of action stored in the infinite 
reservoir of justice. National calamities, so 
considered, are the culmination of individ- 
ual errors, and when such errors are regarded 

with indifference or permitted to continue 

[195] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

without effort for correction, the conscious- 
ness of the nation is in proportionate ratios 
to such condonements lowered. 

Corrective manifestations of the Law should 
always serve important uses, but are often 
wrongfully regarded as misfortunes. They 
teach the thoughtful ones important lessons 
regarding their true relations to the cosmic 
order. Their wise instructions cannot, with- 
out a final account, be disregarded or evaded. 
Nor does ignorance offer satisfactory reparation 
or excuse for disobedience of their injunctions. 

Even had Pharaoh unconsciously failed to 
perform his moral obligation, to deal justly 
with the Jews, which his position as ruler of 
the Egyptian nation imposed upon him, he 
would not have escaped expiation in this 
or some other plane of consciousness. Such, 
however, was his confidence in his own ability 
to control affairs in Egypt, that he is recorded 
to have said, "Who is the Lord, that I should 
obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not 
the Lord, neither will I let Israel go." 



[196] 



XXVI 

" And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, 
I am the Lord." — Exodus 6: 2 

" And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and 
unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by 
my name JEHOVAH was I no known to them/ 7 

— Ibid. 6: 3. 

Long before the birth of Abraham, the 
Jewish tribes had occupied from time to time 
various sections of the country about Syria, 
making frequent changes in order to procure 
subsistence for herds and flocks, the raising 
of which was their pursuit, when not at war 
with each other, or with surrounding tribes 
for the possession of new lands. In the pro- 
cess of race evolution, they had developed 
certain physical traits, special characteristics, 
indicating a common origin. Each tribe in 
its primitive fashion worshiped certain gods, 
the creation of their own hands, images very 
crudely constructed, but which signified to 

[197] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

them certain important facts in later genera- 
tions perceived as symbolizing spiritual truths. 
Many ages thereafter, announcement was made 
unto Abraham, "I am the Almighty God" — 
doubtless by some Spirit intelligence then in 
astral life, whose announcement subsequently 
proved to be an important message, the corner 
stone of all later Jewish monotheistic teachings. 
Their Scriptures in an esoteric sense fairly 
reflect the prevailing ideas of that period, 
the general belief of the age, and from them 
we may judge the plane of spiritual realiza- 
tion which the race had then attained. Many 
interesting things have been received by us 
concerning Abraham and his immediate suc- 
cessors, but for a period of four hundred 
years after his death no person of superior 
genius appeared, nor in the meantime did the 
race fill any important part in history. It 
was during all that time either engaged in 
nomadic pursuits or in bondage to the Egyp- 
tians. When, however, Moses arose and in the 
accomplishment of a great purpose assumed 
control, a mass of heterogeneous elements 
was brought into the semblance of order and 

[198] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

so kept through the enforcement of neces- 
sary sanitary and other useful regulations. 
Later on, when encompassed by apparently 
uncontrollable obstacles, a revelation is re- 
corded to have been received by him which 
announced, "I am the Lord/' and made known 
unto him the name " Jehovah/ ' which should 
thenceforth inspire reverent faith and confi- 
dence among the Jews that the Real Leader 
of their cause was none other than the "Most 
High." The necessity of that important 
revelation, and the fact of its acceptance as 
reality, can never be fully understood by 
those living so long subsequent to the events 
as ourselves. The Jews had well-nigh lost 
faith in the revelation made unto Abraham. 
Therefore when we read, "I appeared unto 
Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by 
the name of God Almighty, but by my 
name Jehovah was I not known unto them," 
we should consider the special needs of 
the hour, and the probable effect that such 
announcement would have upon those in- 
clined to falter and question the probabili- 
ties of success in a matter which practically 

[199] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

involved the destiny of the race. Useful 
inspirations never fail those engaged in 
just causes in times of urgent necessities. 
It is very probable that the real signifi- 
cance of the one concerning the Jehovah 
was not at first perceived by many of the 
Jews. Comparatively few at the present time 
have realized that state of consciousness which 
enables one to receive or realize as true com- 
munications from those in spheres of illumi- 
nation. How many can esoterically perceive 
the sublime meaning of the statement, "I AM 
THAT I AM," which has come down through 
the ages? 

Some of the Jews believed that when Moses 
should lead them to the land of Canaan, that 
Jehovah would come and rule over them as 
a personal King — that He would lead them 
to victory, and in other ways enable them to 
permanently possess the country and enjoy 
its material resources, as in a following verse 
it is recorded: "I will be to you a God, 
and ye shall know that I am the Lord." The 
prevailing idea of God was that He ruled as 
a war deity and gained triumphs over enemies. 

[200] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

They very closely related Him to their own 
limited conceptions of greatness. 

At first the Jews were not inclined to 
hearken unto Moses, nor did they believe 
much in his ability to win material victories 
over the Egyptians, and all feared that if he 
did not succeed, their last estate would be 
worse than conditions then prevailing. They 
were yet upon such a low plane of spiritual 
evolution that they could not comprehend the 
reality of celestial visions nor hear the Voice 
which inspired their leader. 

Moses, through the possession of spiritual 
gifts, had, preliminary to the commence- 
ment of his life work, acquired considerable 
influence with the Jewish priests, who were 
the principal teachers of moral precepts. 
In their presence the elements of nature 
had responded to the control of the spirit 
by whom he was guided. Exoteric phe- 
nomena therefore served as one of the 
means employed by him to enlist the influ- 
ence of those who were the teachers of the 
masses, as without their cooperation he could 
not have succeeded in delivering his people 

[201] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

from the tyranny of the Egyptians, for the 
Jews were comparatively few in number, and 
without many resources, and would have 
been compelled to yield to superior forces. 

Their subjugation had been intensified 
by the deprivation of every means of offen- 
sive and defensive relief. Many only faintly 
hoped in the God now revealed by the new 
name, never to be spoken aloud, whose infi- 
nite power Moses confidently taught would 
prove supreme in every exigency which might 
arise. Those who faithfully accepted the situ- 
ation, and absolutely confided in the Jehovah, 
were unconsciously and obediently fulfilling 
necessary conditions precedent to the reali- 
zation of success. 

But even a belief in Jehovah was not a 
complete fulfillment of all the requirements of 
moral Law, for the untutored savage, having 
perfect faith, may call to his aid intelligences 
who can understand his necessities, who may 
enlist the cooperation of higher intelligences 
in the preparation of conditions through 
which a desired end can be accomplished. 
At the opportune hour the savage receives 

[202] 



THE PAST EEYEALED 

inspiration from those in conjunction with 
his plane of perception and does the thing re- 
quired of him. His faith relates him to certain 
correspondences of spirit productive of success. 
The Jews were not only taught to believe in 
the Jehovah, but required to illustrate their 
belief by the performance of many heroic 
deeds of self-sacrifice, and if need be to lay 
down their lives in behalf of their cause. 

That they were compelled to endure many 
hardships in their various emigrations to Ca- 
naan while escaping bondage was a necessary 
preliminary preparation for the correct use 
of the privileges to which they would become 
heirs under changed conditions of life. They 
were thus in a measure educated to respect 
lawful authority. 

While we are not prepared to defend all the 
literal statements which have come down to 
us as records of the life and doings of Moses, 
and are inclined to accept some of them with 
reservation, we can readily believe that he did 
receive the cooperation of certain very high 
intelligences, and that they created conditions 
favorable to the success which he afterwards 

[203] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

obtained. We would not, however, have any 
one infer from this statement that Moses or 
any other one has ever been released from 
individual effort in lawful pursuits or under- 
takings, even when conscious of receiving aid 
from those in celestial states. 

The higher intelligences doubtless mani- 
fested their control over the elements through 
the agency of Moses, partly to impress upon 
the mind of Pharaoh the fact that the cause 
of the Jews was one beyond the domain of 
mere personal effort. Moses was in a limited 
sense employed as a vicegerent or executive 
agent of the Law, exercising certain delegated 
powers. We must, however, not forget that 
time and distance lend distinctive charm to 
the record of many ancient occurrences, and 
that truth as a divine principle was none too 
highly respected in the earlier periods of the 
world's history. Moses is correctly revealed 
unto us, surrounded as though by a halo of 
the eternal verities, the great teacher, guide, 
and leader, who implicitly trusted and followed 
the higher intuitions of his nature, who in 
the face of scorn, mockery, and unbelief never 

[204] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

faltered, whose desires were centralized in 
grand purposes, — the freedom of the Jewish 
race from its bondage to the Egyptians and 
the establishment of a spiritual hierarchy for 
its government. 

The inestimable value of the object lesson 
which his career has furnished unto all succeed- 
ing generations fully justifies a careful study of 
the historical events of his life, even though 
we should find reason to distrust some details 
of the record. We have received many kernels 
of truth, but sometimes so concealed as almost 
to preclude our discovery of them. That he 
was divinely led, there can be no doubt. 

All great purposes are first formulated in 
spheres where the finer electrical and etheric 
forces prevail; for only in such elements are 
spiritual perceptions clear and the necessities 
of those in lower states of progress fully under- 
stood. 

No crisis arises without its Moses, nor can 
any one successfully mold events except he 
has first been prepared for the duties pertain- 
ing to leadership. This is neither a world of 
chaos nor of chance. 

[205] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

An angel of Light spake unto Moses and 
revealed in his consciousness the possession of 
powers equal to every future exigency, and a 
knowledge of this fact must have been the 
sustaining and inspiring principle of his life, 
finally leading him unto spiritual heights, not 
inappropriately symbolized by a Mount, where 
he perceived a land overflowing with milk and 
honey, indicative of peace and happiness, the 
reward of righteous thought and action. 



[206] 



XXVII 

" And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, 
Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the 
waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their 
rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their 
pools of water, that they may become blood; and 
that there may be blood throughout all the land of 
Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of 
stone." — Exodus 7: 19. 

"And the magicians of Egypt did so with their 
enchantments/ ' etc. — Ibid. 7: 22. 

Though the better scholarship of the age 
has assigned to the quotations above cited an 
esoteric interpretation we will state that the 
advanced intelligences of the celestial world 
are able to effect visible changes in color ap- 
pearances by the variation of vibratory rates 
of the atmosphere. There are those even in 
the astral world who can temporarily direct 
atmospheric currents. From such causes the 
face of the waters may be changed in appear- 
ance. The spiritual vision of Pharaoh was 

[207] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

blinded, and the appearance of the waters, 
as described, fitly illustrate the turbid state of 
his moral consciousness. He had not expiated 
the requirements of the Law, that each must 
suffer the penalty of individual misdeeds. He 
could not have escaped the karmic debts of his 
own creation, had he attempted so to do. 
Unto him the end was not yet. Even the ele- 
mentaries of the astral spheres may be em- 
ployed to enforce the mandates of the Law, 
as they obey the behests of those whose com- 
mands preclude failure. Pharaoh was not a 
victim of, but subject to, the Law, like unto 
every mortal born upon the plane of earth 
since creation's dawn. 

We also read in the following verse: "And 
the fish that was in the river died; and the 
river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink 
of the water of the river ; and there was blood 
throughout all the land of Egypt. " 

It is not impossible for those who have at- 
tained illumination to so exercise control over 
the elements, as to change the expression of 
one or more of the component parts of a given 
substance. Even an alteration of the relative 

[208] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

ratios of vibration in relation of such parts 
might produce conditions inimical to life. The 
exercise of powers productive of such results do 
not obtain in the lower spheres. Decomposing 
fish and decaying vegetation might certainly 
create deplorable physical conditions. Had 
Pharaoh at this time consented to the libera- 
tion of the Jews, he would not thereby have 
escaped further suffering, for the reason that 
he was still upon the plane of his soothsayers. 
The disillusion had not yet occurred; the time 
for their failure to reproduce conditions created 
at the command of Moses and Aaron was in 
the future. It was not apparent to Pharaoh 
that there could be revealed many things sur- 
passing the limit of magical possibility. The 
Egyptian monarch knew not that Moses could 
obtain the cooperative assistance of intelli- 
gences from those planes of being where limita- 
tions cease and conditions of light and power 
prevail. 



[209] 



XXVIII 

" And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, 
Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, 
over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs 
to come up upon the land of Egypt." — Exodus 8 : 5. 

" But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, 
he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; 
as the Lord [spirit] had said." — Ibid. 8: 15. 

Pharaoh, whose characteristics are shown in 
Ex. 8 : 15, was a fair prototype of many who 
since that time have been prominent in the 
affairs of the world, in that his low moral 
consciousness required obedience to no defined 
rules of conduct. He was not disposed to 
consider moral questions at all, nor to inter- 
fere in the affairs of the priesthood. The 
future concerned him not. In his estimation 
a live king was an important personage, to 
whom all should bow in respect. He desired 
gorgeous surroundings which contributed to 
sensuous enjoyments and selfish pleasures. 

[210] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

When, therefore, the rod was stretched forth 
and visions of frogs came before him in such 
vast numbers, Pharaoh called for Moses and 
Aaron and said, "Intreat the Lord that he 
may take away the frogs from me and from 
my people/' for he doubtless felt that the 
visitation was real over all Egypt. We are 
informed that Moses complied with this re- 
quest and that the Lord answered his prayer. 
Spiritual blessings are obtainable at any time 
by those in harmonial relations with intelli- 
gences competent to confer them. Spirit also 
forever defines form and may cause its destruc- 
tion whether the phenomena be mental or real. 
As in all other affairs, the higher spiritual intelli- 
gences in this instance controlled the conditions. 
Pharaoh may have believed more than he 
was willing to admit, and doubtless knew that 
he could not escape a most unpleasant situa- 
tion without the assistance of Moses and Aaron, 
the instruments through which the majesty of 
the Law had in this instance been manifested. 
His request was tantamount to the acknowl- 
edgment of a belief in the power of the Lord of 
the Jews. 

[211] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

"But when Pharaoh saw that there was 
respite, he hardened his heart. " A return to 
previous conditions which have proved attrac- 
tive is the natural desire of those bound to the 
material attractions of life. It is the usual ex- 
pression of the law of karmic action, in the 
nature of penalty meted to ignorance. Escape 
is possible only when the impulse from within 
has awakened the divine consciousness. Pha- 
raoh, although an influential ruler among the 
nations of that period, had not evolved such a 
consciousness. He was in fact in a state of 
bondage to the unregulated senses of his lower 
nature, whose exactions are always arbitrary. 

Moral obtuseness and stubborness, both evi- 
dences of darkened correspondences of spirit, 
are not penalties exclusively confined to those 
in the so-called lower walks of life. 



[212] 



XXIX 

" And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, 
Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, 
that it may become lice throughout all the land of 
Egypt." — Exodus 8 : 16. 

"And the magicians did so with their enchant- 
ments to bring forth lice, but they could not : so there 
were lice upon man, and upon beast." — Ibid. 8: 18. 

"Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is 
the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hard- 
ened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord 
had said." — Ibid. 8:19. 

The Egyptian magicians had, until the occa- 
sion above recorded, been able to reproduce 
the phenomena manifested by command of 
Moses before Pharaoh. The king, having seen 
nothing impossible, following natural impulse, 
hardened his heart, and refused to consider the 
Jewish cause. By those who have made prog- 
ress in occult wisdom, and have learned some- 
thing concerning spiritual laws, it will be readily 

admitted that the Egyptian magicians may 

[213] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

have been able to evoke certain lower intelli- 
gences, and through their cooperation have 
performed mysterious acts, such as are within 
the power of those yet bound to the sphere of 
astral life to do. Acting under the direction 
of such intelligences, the magicians are re- 
ported to have successfully imitated the first 
phenomenon shown by Aaron before Pharaoh ; 
but not knowing much concerning spiritual 
laws operative within the domain of nature, 
subsequently attributed other unusual and 
apparently impossible results to the finger 
of God, — an Oriental expression, intended 
to ascribe superior power unto those whose 
services they could not command, though they 
regarded the great seers only expert magicians. 

It required many subsequent phenomena 
beyond the power of the soothsayers to pro- 
duce, in order to convince the obdurate 
Egyptian ruler that they were in reality 
manifestations of superior interposition. 

Unto one who occupied such an influential 
and responsible position, the liberation of a 
hundred thousand or more long held to bond- 
age was a matter to be seriously considered, 

[214] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

as it involved many interests, and might not 
be accomplished without the general assent of 
those prominent in affairs of the country. 
Above all other considerations, there were 
other special reasons why the king could not 
at that time yield to the demands of Moses. 
For a long period the Pharaohs of Egypt 
had permitted the commission of many wrongs 
upon the subject race. Through unjust and 
cruel acts, a psychic atmosphere or national 
aura had been created, charged with causes of 
retribution, and the time had now arrived for 
the infliction of the penalties of violated 
Law. An instrument of the spirit world, who 
directly received communications from those 
in advanced states of illumination, appeared 
able to avenge injustice, and lead the Jews 
to victory. The necessities of the times, as 
in all previous crises, had been foreseen by 
those able to provide against emergencies. 
Omissions of national duty and commissions 
of national sins by the Egyptians, justified 
the appeal of Moses unto those in the realms 
of Spirit able to correct all errors and cause 
the execution of justice. 

[215] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

The black clouds, thick and heavy, which 
for more than two hundred years had envel- 
oped the Jewish race, were about to disappear, 
as though rent asunder by flashes of light from 
the celestial spheres. The race was soon to 
have an opportunity to create for itself a new 
and better government, the success or failure 
of which in the end would depend upon its 
own foresight and sense of justice. Righteous 
action foreboded escape from servitude to sin 
and the final establishment of civil liberty 
and national prosperity. Would they succeed 
or fail? 

As their subsequent history has proven, the 
desire then awakened in the Jewish heart has 
never been wholly extinguished. Though often 
prevented expression, it has continued an 
active force even unto this day. The attain- 
ment of liberty involved unforeseen sacrifices 
and the necessity of learning some lessons in 
the school of experience, which might have 
been avoided had they realized that races as 
individuals are subjects of Law and under its 
penalties when disobedient to its requirements. 
The Jews were compelled to learn much through 

[216] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

suffering before they attained influence in the 
world of affairs in which it was their destiny 
to become important factors. They started 
upon an independent racial career, under the 
leadership of one inspired to the performance 
of noble deeds. History defines how they 
have since actually profited by the instructions 
and example of their seer and prophet. 

With the Egyptians conditions were even 
less fortunate than with the Jews. Not one 
of their Pharaohs nor any of their political 
guides had ever attained spiritual freedom. 
All were in bondage to the senses and 
perceived not the light which spiritual con- 
sciousness evolves, yet under an universal and 
just law were compelled to suffer grievous 
experiences. They were living upon those 
planes of existence not inaptly typified by the 
murrain of beasts, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, 
and the separation by death from the dearest 
ties of earth. The Egyptian life attracted 
such inflictions, to that state of degradation 
had the chief officers of state sunken. 

The Law has been described as pitiless, know- 
ing neither friend nor foe, absolute in its opera- 

[217] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

tion, visiting the sins of the fathers upon the 
children, even to distant generations. And 
yet to those who have learned its principles, 
and have attained to conditions of harmony, 
it unfolds beauty and perfection, and clearly 
reveals the wisdom and love of its Divine 
Author. The Egyptians had not evolved a 
consciousness of the divine order of nature. 
Instead of the recognition of the Principle, 
they had erected altars dedicated to mammon 
and the lusts pertaining to the material world. 
They had sown to the wind and could not 
rightfully expect to reap the fruits of obedi- 
ence. Neither in that nor in any subsequent 
age have the celestial beatitudes been realized 
where discord and sin have reigned. Nor can 
conditions favorable to real, abiding happiness 
be secured or maintained through disobedience 
to spiritual laws. 

We have previously referred to the possi- 
bility of the control of the elements by those 
in states of illumination, and to the fre- 
quent cooperation of celestial intelligences for 
the temporary manifestation of phenomena 

to illustrate the supremacy of the Law, 

[218] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

or to further any spiritual or beneficent 
design. 

We read that upon a certain occasion the 
Spirit smote all the firstborn of Egyptians in 
the land. Such calamities as are allegorically 
described in Scripture relate the Egyptians to 
causes of retributive Justice incurred by ages 
of disobedience to inherent principles of the 
universal, unchanging Law, in the mitigation 
of whose penalties the plea of ignorance 
never avails. The Egyptian leaders had not 
sufficiently advanced in learning and spirit- 
ual wisdom to perceive the force of an 
abstract principle. Certain other nations long 
before had established imperfect systems of 
government, under which legal proceedings 
had been instituted and judicial decisions im- 
perfectly enforced, but the absence of facili- 
ties of intercourse and exchange of views had, 
in effect, prevented a general unification of laws 
or the establishment of any system of inter- 
national jurisprudence. Customs in different 
countries and sections of the same country 
were then, as now, important factors, which 

sometimes retarded the efforts of those working 

[219] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

for universal benefits. In fact, many impeding 
causes prevented the Egyptians from profiting 
by the experiences of older nations, such as 
the Atlanteans, Babylonians, Chaldeans, and 
others anterior to these. It is not, however, 
correct for us to infer that prior nations 
were models of virtue or in any respect good 
representatives of spiritual ideals. In many 
relations they were not so far advanced as the 
Egyptians. 

The greatest calamity allegorically described 
as having been inflicted upon the Egyptians, 
through the destruction of the firstborn of the 
nation, has sometimes been referred to as in 
morals wholly indefensible, a visitation upon 
those in nowise responsible for conditions then 
existing. Those who entertain such views 
should study the metaphysical view of un- 
changing law. Spirit is. It is preexistent, 
inextinguishable. Physical man is its highest 
type of expression, its best representative in 
material life. His evolution of the higher 
consciousness is the chief object of existence, 
the desired issue of all struggles, conflicts, and 
suffering. Spirit in the course of its endless 

[220] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

progress defines its own methods and agencies, 
as also its various bodies. Upon the plane 
of earth it has evolved a physical body, so- 
called, in celestial spheres a spiritual body of 
varying degrees of luminosity, but all its forms 
used in manifestation are temporary and are 
readily exchanged for other and better ones 
when realizations permit. 

Those in the higher correspondences lightly 
value the body, well knowing that spirit 
inherently possesses capacity to define one 
adapted to the actual present state of being. 
This simple statement clearly indicates that 
such a calamity as is recorded in Scriptures 
upon actual occurrence would not have been 
seriously considered by intelligences in the 
higher spheres, where spiritual laws are more 
clearly defined and better understood than 
upon the earth. 

Mortals are taught to tenaciously hold to 
their physical forms and to prize them as the 
pearl above price, and hardly realize that 
they are but means to ends, and that when 
they have served the purposes of earth exist- 
ence are of no further value to spirit. The 

[221] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

psychological creation of that state of mind in 
which appeared the vision of the destruction 
of the physical life of the firstborn of Egypt, 
as described in the story, was the culmination 
of all Egyptian woes, and the final means by 
which the supremacy of Spirit was impressed 
upon the consciousness of the Egyptian 
monarch. In an esoteric sense such a calamity 
as related would have simply transferred the 
lives of the firstborn of Egypt from a very low 
plane of physical and spiritual expression to 
one where somewhat better conditions pre- 
vailed, — a change affording larger opportu- 
nities for those who were taken. It would 
have awakened in those who were spared a 
realization, probably not very clear, but in a 
certain sense effective, of the existence of 
some superior force. If it had not established 
faith in the rule of Law governed by Infinite 
Intelligence, it undoubtedly would have in- 
spired a certain measure of respect for those 
they thought had been the instruments of 
calamity. He who vibrates upon the lower 
planes is more readily influenced by physical 

phenomena than by spiritual manifestations. 

[222] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

Our record of that calamity distinctly con- 
firms a fact often observed in human affairs, 
that the pendulum describing the arc of conduct 
indicates with unerring certainty that penalties 
are incurred by those who disobey the Law, 
— an eye for an eye, and a life for a life. This 
is the metaphysical teaching of the allegory. 
The operation of Law is neither controlled 
by personal interest, individual desire, nor by 
the aggregations of political power or popular 
impulse. It reflects the consciousness of the 
Invisible. From that Source is derived its 
existence, and it contains principles coeval 
with the Eternal. It is the instrument by 
which the Infinite expresses His purpose, exe- 
cutes designs, and manifests the absolute 
order of the universe. Every living being, 
whether clothed in a physical or a spiritual 
body, is His instrument, and upon a plane of 
present correspondence is either consciously 
or unconsciously fulfilling his part in the cosmic 
order. No one, however, is bound to present 
conditions, for infinite progression is the des- 
tiny of man, and a clear perception of this 
fact is the beginning of wisdom, an entrance 

[223] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

upon the Path leading through many evolu- 
tions to the full and perfect realization of 
truth. 

Now, Moses, in a sense apparent to human 
understanding, had evolved a spiritual con- 
sciousness in advance of the times in which 
he lived. He was the best representative of 
his race in that or any age, as he attained 
sufficient progress while upon earth to receive 
directions from those in higher states of 
existence. In a certain sense he was a 
moral genius, the son of a great necessity, 
born in due season for the divine purpose 
illustrated by his life. His career offers sub- 
stantial evidence that under the Law all human 
emergencies are ever provided for through 
human agencies, and that necessities are fore- 
seen from the beginning by the advanced 
Executors of the Law. 

Had Moses never issued any other com- 
mand than that contained in Ex. 12:49, "One 
law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto 
the stranger that sojourneth among you," his 
name would have been justly immortalized, 

for the principle of equality so announced 

[224] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

expresses the substance of human needs. 
That this principle of equality before the Law 
was thus early recognized and made the sub- 
ject of a command, is evidence by which we 
may estimate his character. Under a banner 
representing such ideals defeat was impos- 
sible. That at subsequent periods, as neces- 
sities required, he enforced useful regulations 
by the exercise of stern measures, militates 
not against our estimate of his character, but 
rather sustains and increases our respect for 
the man. 

The light of consciousness symbolized by 
Spirit leading by day in a pillar of a cloud 
and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them 
light to go by day and by night, is a statement 
of an inner spiritual fact of being, as true 
to-day as when first announced. 

Into the heart of one aspiring for the divine 
wisdom enters peace, creating conditions for 
the realization of joy beyond the power of 
language to describe. 

Moses has been justly regarded as one cf 
the greatest men of all times, the towering, 

beacon light of antiquity. We hope in the 

[225] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

course of our writings to further refer to his 
part in the history of the Jewish people, for 
it was the noble sacrifice, the absolute con- 
fidence in the cause, and perfect reliance upon 
spiritual guidance, that enabled him to stand 
as a rock of defense against the assaults of 
enemies without and the machinations of the 
discontented within his own camps. "Fear 
ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of 
the Lord" is the keynote by which we can 
estimate his character, 

" The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold 
your peace." — Exodus 14: 14. 

Thus spake Moses unto his people. The 
cause was greater than the Jewish conception 
of it; it had enlisted the interest and favor 
of those celestial intelligences whose superior 
wisdom enables them to forever prescribe 
conditions necessary for the successful issue 
of their designs. Moses, instructed by the 
Spirit, knew that he would accomplish what- 
soever Spirit directed him to undertake. 
From the beginning he enlisted upon the side 
of those able to lead him aright and to insure 

[226] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

victory. When, therefore, the rank and file, 
the followers of the camp and others, were 
disposed to murmur about the material incon- 
veniences of their situation, it was not without 
reason that he should say unto them, "The 
Lord shall fight for you." 

Through spiritual harmony one enters into 
more perfect relations with the Great Oversoul 
— the Imperial Essence and certain ones in 
spiritual illumination cooperate with and teach 
how to realize consciousness of the purpose of 
life's mission. Moses had entered upon the 
execution of a design formulated in spiritual 
realms, and as the executive instrument of 
higher intelligences was sure to succeed. The 
Jews were not to become immediately the 
beneficiaries of the new order, but were rather 
to illustrate, as involuntary agents, the divine 
system of the administration of justice. They 
were unable to comprehend this view of the 
cosmic order, and murmured on account of 
personal matters. While it is true that they 
would have more freely benefited had they 
properly employed the opportunities afforded 
them for the promotion of harmony, in ex- 

[227] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

tenuation we may say that very few had 
learned anything concerning possible relations 
of those in the earth life with those in spirit- 
ual states of being. No leaders of thought 1 
had evolved any system of ethics and none 
taught the immortality of the soul. 

" And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, 
and the sea returned to his strength when the morning 
appeared ; and the Egyptians fled against it ; and the 
Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the 
sea." — Exodus 14: 27. 

Accepting the statement as transmitted 
through the ages, we have another illustration 
that control over the elements is limited only 
by spiritual correspondences, and that there 
are celestial intelligences who have, through 
knowledge of nature's laws, learned to direct 
its modes of expression. Those who have 
acquired great illumination, and understand 
spiritual principles, can control conditions 
required for the creation of storms, calms, 
and other physical phenomena pertaining to 
sea or land, and may cause cyclones, volca- 
noes, earthquakes, and various other seismic 
disturbances. All such phenomena are evi- 

[228] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

dences of the inherent potentialities of the 
Universal Law when manifested under the 
direction of illuminated intelligences, those 
who have attained high correspondences. 
While it is true that the execution of the Law 
in its minor relations is sometimes delegated 
to wise and inquiring spirits, the authority of 
initiation rests in those who have advanced 
to the more perfect state, such power being 
wisely withheld from all in the lower conditions 
of excarnate life. As spirit progress is not 
limited, we may state that there are those in 
the celestial hierarchies who not only control 
the physical conditions of the material earth 
life, but also direct the manifestations of the 
Law throughout the cosmos. To that height 
every one may aspire, for in fact such is the 
destiny of spirit. In a figurative, as also in 
a mystic, sense we are all embryonic gods. 



[229] 



XXX 

" And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the 
voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is 
right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his command- 
ments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of 
these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon 
the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee." 

— Exodus 15:26. 

The aura projected by a person wholly 
governed by sensuous impulses reveals an in- 
terior state of discord ; frequently changes its 
color, and through imperfect radiation leaves 
the physical body subject to attack by disease, 
but in the spiritually minded it radiates more 
perfectly, and serves as a protective mantle 
against opposing influences that permeate the 
plane of physical existence. 

The Egyptians, as natural result of low 
moral conditions, were subject to many dis- 
cordant influences, surrounded as it were by 
many Marahs of bitter waters. Their attrac- 

[230] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

tions were of the sort that increase the bur- 
dens of life. 

Moses, serving as both spiritual and tem- 
poral leader of his race, desired that the Jews 
should not only escape slavery to their Egyp- 
tian masters, but that they should so live as 
not to attract to themselves diseases which 
had long afflicted the Egyptians. Inspired 
by Spirit, he revealed unto his people certain 
important occult principles, teaching his fol- 
lowers that if they would diligently hearken 
to the Jehovah, do that which was right, and 
give ear to the Commandments and keep all 
statutes they would escape diseases to which 
the Egyptians were subject. If we analyze 
this text from the point of view of the 
present-day knowledge of man's relation to 
the known laws of life, we will perceive 
great wisdom in its requirements. The reader 
will note that the promise is a personal one 
directed to the individual conscience, though 
it is a general statement of truth, as every 
one is practically told to follow his own 
intuitions, to there seek for the truth, and to 

be led by the spirit within. His essential 

[231] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

instructions were to listen to the one Voice, 
follow its leadings as the sure means of escape 
from disease. Investigations of the present 
age confirm the truth that by maintaining 
harmonial relations with divine laws one's 
physical body is protected from disease and 
gradually becomes a temple fit for the resi- 
dence of the indwelling spirit. He may so 
relate himself to the Universal Oversoul as 
fully to confirm the occult truth that health 
proceeds from and is maintained by Spirit; 
"for I am the Lord that healeth thee." 

Here is a positive statement of the power 
of Spirit to keep one from physical illness, — 
a truth which has been often confirmed by 
appeals unto the Highest. 



[232] 



XXXI 

" And Moses brought forth the people out of the 
camp to meet with God ; and they stood at the nether 
part of the mount." — Exodus 19 : 17. 

"And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, 
because the Lord descended upon it in fire : and the 
smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, 
and the whole mount quaked greatly." 

— Ibid. 19: 18. 

" And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, 
and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God 
answered him by a voice." — Ibid. 19: 19. 

" And Moses said unto the Lord, The people can- 
not come up to mount Sinai." — Ibid. 19: 23. 

"And they stood at the nether part of the 
mount. " "The people cannot come up to 
mount Sinai." The quotations indirectly 
confirm the existence of the law of spiritual 
correspondences. The Jews who found in 
material pleasures their chief attractions were, 
in a spiritual sense, prevented from passing up 

[233] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

higher. When Moses spake unto them ; and 
all the people answered together and said, 
"All that the Lord hath spoken we will do," 
a few spiritually inspired may have perceived 
by the senses affinities with certain intelli- 
gences of the astral sphere, for there were 
spiritual as well as material purposes to be ac- 
complished by the phenomenal manifestations 
which preceded the delivery of the Command- 
ments. They were first issued in order to 
secure certain desirable material results, — 
the security of person and property and the 
diffusion of happiness among the masses. 
They contained foundation principles neces- 
sary to be respected in the general con- 
duct of public and private affairs. It was 
therefore both politic and requisite that the 
principles desired to be enforced should be 
made absolute and mandatory, and that the 
circumstances of their delivery should be such 
as to inspire in the hearts of the people 
respect for them. The Jews were then living 
upon the physical plane and subject to its 
conditions. It was therefore necessary in 

order to impress the people with the impor- 

[234] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

tance of the occasion that, upon the delivery 
of the Commandments, Mount Sinai should 
be "altogether on a smoke, because the Lord 
[Spirit] descended upon it in fire/' and that 
the smoke thereof should "ascend as the 
smoke of a furnace/' and that the whole mount 
should quake greatly. 

The Commandments, which are said to have 
been written by spirit power upon tablets of 
stone, and to have been delivered into the 
hand of Moses, had previously been received 
by the Chaldeans and Babylonians, and were 
said to have been delivered unto an earlier 
teacher of the Egyptian nation (Melchizedek), 
but none of the nations to whom they had 
been intrusted had attained spiritual corre- 
spondences of a sufficiently high order to rec- 
ognize their great value, and had not preserved 
them for the benefit of future generations. 

All in one or other manner had been lost, by 
some ignorantly destroyed, by others buried 
in the earth and allowed to pass from memory 
and consciousness. 

They were not generally respected anywhere 
though stating principles inherently true, but 

[235] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

requiring personal obedience in order to secure 
the protection of celestial intelligences against 
the machinations of those disposed to do evil. 
Some said they did not contain the essence of 
material equities needful for the guidance of 
mankind, and as principles which had relation 
to the immortal life of spirit had never been 
publicly taught, therefore many rejected them 
as the true Decalogue ; but to the great honor 
of the race it may be said that in all its tribu- 
lations and misfortunes many of its leaders 
and learned teachers have never lost conscious- 
ness of their spiritual value and have held them 
in reverent respect. The manifestations con- 
nected with the memorable occasion concern- 
ing which we write were well calculated to 
impress the minds of a susceptible people. As 
the events are recorded, they illustrate the 
wonderful control over the elements which can 
be exercised by certain advanced intelligences. 
That the Archangel Michael spake unto Moses 
by a voice may be readily believed by those 
who have realized spiritual hearing. Such an 
one will perceive that there was no derogation 
of the Law in anything recorded. 

[236] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

It is not impossible for those imperfectly 
attuned on certain occasions to hear the voices 
of spirits, and often through such experiences 
to learn much. 

Moses doubtless received many such com- 
munications. He had been prepared to behold 
and converse with those in excarnate conditions 
of life, but the people could not come up to 
that Mount Sinai. The illusions of this world 
prevent many from the realization of their 
own spiritual possibilities. Unto them it 
"was altogether on a smoke. " They had not 
attained clear vision, nor could they respond 
to that Voice, which in the first instance 
always appeals to consciousness. 



[237] 



XXXII 

" And God spake all these words, saying, 
I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee 
out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.' 7 

— Exodus 20: 1,2. 

" Thou shalt have no other gods before me." 

— Ibid. 20: 3. 

In the Pentateuch the word "Spirit" should 
be generally substituted for God or the Lord. 
The propriety of such change will be apparent 
when it is stated that before and long subse- 
quent to the exodus nothing was taught by 
the priests concerning an Infinite Intelligence, 
Spirit, or Fountain of the Law. Nor did any 
one teach the eternal life of man in spiritual 
states of existence. The Jews, previous to 
the exodus, knew nothing about man's spirit- 
ual relation to an Omnipotent Being. Some, 
though few in numbers, had made a little prog- 
ress and did occasionally receive communi- 
cations from intelligences in the subjective 

[238] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

conditions of life. Those who had attained 
such astral realizations were highly revered 
and regarded by many as gods. There was 
apparent reason for such respect, as during 
the earlier stages of human development 
they were the only exponents of psychic 
mysteries. The ordinary individual knew not 
that he was in essence spirit and that he 
inherently possessed capacity to realize the 
divine self -consciousness. He had no defi- 
nite views, no conception whatsoever relating 
to conditions after the earth life. Nor were 
there, until many centuries later, any organ- 
ized societies or communities which recog- 
nized the supreme moral law or any system 
of ethics based upon it. The divine intui- 
tions, which precede the realization of har- 
monial spiritual correspondences, had not 
been awakened in the consciousness of the 
race. A primitive condition existed even at 
the period when Moses appeared, and nobody 
knew anything about eternal spiritual laws 
of the universe, though a great need had 
arisen for such wisdom. No one previous to 
Moses had ever been inspired to reveal the 

[239] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

universal principles of the Law always inherent 
in human nature, since realized by those who 
have attained the higher correspondences of 
consciousness and to them as clearly apparent 
as though inscribed upon tablets of bronze 
and set up in the market-places of the world. 
He taught fundamental truths, foundation 
principles, which were then necessary to right 
conduct and so remain to this day. The Com- 
mandments announced principles existent in 
spiritual consciousness from the beginning, even 
before the Infinite Spirit willed the creation of 
this planet, and it was only needful that some 
inspired genius should awaken a recognition 
of their divine significance. After having 
made considerable spiritual progress, Moses 
began to teach the wisdom which had been 
imparted unto him by those in higher spheres. 
It was through instructions there received that 
he was subsequently enabled to establish just 
rules and regulations for the government of 
the Jews. Through obedience to the Com- 
mandments, certain other Jews afterwards 
attained much influence and developed capac- 
ity to direct public affairs. Moses estab- 

[240] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

lished the first schools for the education of 
priests, and in this special work he received 
the active cooperation and guidance of the 
guardian angel of light then presiding over 
the affairs of the Jews. The founders of the 
Jewish hierarchy soon perceived that the 
adoration or worship of graven images, or 
supposed likenesses of sacred things, which 
largely prevailed among the Egyptians, had 
attracted some Jewish devotees, once promi- 
nent in affairs. The obsessing influences of 
intelligences from the lower spheres of excar- 
nate existence materially obstructed the spirit- 
ual progress and happiness of those who had 
joined in such ceremonies. Such baleful in- 
fluences were also apparent in the conduct 
of others not so directly concerned. One may 
thus perceive that the practices and condi- 
tions which prevailed in Egypt, if for no other 
than material reasons alone, justified the 
issue of the first commandment. It not only 
forbade the worship of idols, but implied 
that the Jews should render their homage 
unto the Jehovah — "Thou shalt have no 

other gods before me/ 7 a command positive in 

[241] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

its requirements. The Egyptians worshiped 
many deities, among them the physical forms 
of certain animals and the images of such 
forms. They believed the animals so adored 
to be the divine incarnations of ancient heroes. 
In later ages certain productions of the soil 
were also held sacred. Notwithstanding so 
many temptations, the general trend of the 
Jewish life was in the direction of advance- 
ment, though they had not realized the all- 
important fact that the Spiritual Principle 
was from the beginning the essence of human 
consciousness — that in man, in embryonic 
miniature, were divine resources destined to 
be expressed by control over the forces of 
nature. 

They knew not the existence of an Infinite 
One whose perfect laws prevail everywhere, 
nor did they know that it was through the 
leading of those in exalted states that Moses 
had acquired such clear and comprehensive 
understanding concerning spiritual laws. 

When many generations had passed and 
more knowledge of the laws governing the 
natural world obtained, the spirit in man 

[242] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

began with varying alternations of success and 
failure to express self-consciousness, gradually 
and successfully using the physical brain for 
the enunciation of spiritual principles. Then, 
for the first time, he learned that he had for 
eons of centuries before his residence upon 
this planet been an entity in other states of 
being. This wisdom, for sufficient reasons, 
was not revealed unto the Jews in the early 
days. 



[243] 



XXXIII 

" Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, 
or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, 
or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water 
under the earth." — Exodus 20: 4. 

Before Moses announced the Command- 
ments some of the Jews had forsaken the 
ancient ceremonies and practices of their 
race for the idolatrous worship of the Egyp- 
tians, though the masses still remained loyal 
unto the faith of Abraham and the revelation 
relating to the Jehovah, announced as having 
revealed Himself unto Moses. The acceptance 
of the new revelation in no respect contro- 
verted their ancient faith, but, as intended, 
rather confirmed and emphasized it. It infer- 
entially affirmed what Moses desired expressly 
to teach, that the Jews were, in a sacred 
and special sense, the favored children of 
God, and that they should worship Him only, 
and not any graven image or likeness of any- 
thing. While the text quoted is subject to 

[244] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

an esoteric interpretation, we may say that 
the special object sought by Moses, the im- 
mediate result desired, was to prevent further 
alienations from the Jewish faith, which, in 
consequence of intermarriages between the 
less intelligent Jews and the lower classes of 
Egyptian women, had been increasing. 

While the Jews, as a race, never joined with 
the Egyptians in the worship of their idols, 
it cannot be said that all Jews were free of 
taint, as many were in bondage to other idols 
in some respects quite as grotesque as those 
of Egypt. Each tribe had its chief god and 
a multitude of lesser deities, in whose divinity 
the masses believed, although certain leaders 
of thought had made some progress and 
reasoned more correctly upon such matters. 
The more intelligent ones accepted as true 
the revelation concerning the Great Jehovah, 
believed to possess the power to command 
the elements of nature, and to preserve the 
lives of the Jewish people against attacks of 
enemies, and to give success in battle. The 
priests under the direction of Moses became 

promulgators of new revelations based upon 

[245] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

the Commandments, and taught that they had 
been directly received from the Jehovah for 
the instruction of those desiring light, serving 
those in the depths of moral darkness, and 
that by obedience to them every one seeking 
spiritual instruction would be led aright. For 
the welfare of all classes they urged the special 
value of the second Commandment, intended 
to safeguard Judaism against Egyptian 
entrancements. Some of the daughters of 
Israel, having married Egyptians, had for- 
saken the faith of their fathers, and many 
Jews, having taken to wife Egyptian daugh- 
ters, had wholly ceased to respect or follow 
their former teachers. Moses therefore per- 
ceived that cogent reasons existed why the 
Jews should be instructed in spiritual mat- 
ters, for it is doubtful whether any one to-day 
knows better than he then knew that thoughts, 
acts, and beliefs were closely associated reali- 
ties, and that they were powerful agents in 
molding the character and lives of men. To 
keep the Jews a distinct and separate people 
was all-important, as liberty of the race and 

its future greatness depended upon solidarity. 

[246] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

Though the second Commandment was in- 
tended to correct abuses which had become 
quite too common among the lower class 
of Jews, it also contained a statement of in- 
terior or metaphysical wisdom of highest 
importance, applicable in all countries and 
ages, so important, that the evils first designed 
to be corrected by it, in comparison, sink 
into obscurity. Its spiritual meaning has 
preserved it unto this day. Idolatry is not 
necessarily confined to the adoration of idols 
— in fact that is a lesser evil than the wor- 
ship of gods or idols set up in the heart of 
man, such as undue desire for, and overes- 
timate of the value of, wealth, unrestrained 
ambition for political or social prestige, the 
love of conquest and rule, and numberless 
other passions of the human beart, — all 
causes of discontent and jealousies, con- 
stantly arousing conflicts within and without, 
leading to the destruction of health, loss of 
character, and the good estimate of friends. 
While one is under the dominion of idolatrous 
desires his influence for good is negative. 
Such victims are also sometimes unsafe citi- 

[247] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

zens, ready for insurrection against the state, 
and usually holding narrow and strictly or- 
thodox views on spiritual matters, bind others 
to undesirable conditions of karmic action. 



[248] 



XXXIV 

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy 
God in vain ; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless 
that taketh his name in vain." — Exodus 20: 7. 

The Archangel through whose ministra- 
tions Moses was prepared for his important 
duties doubtless perceived that ideas concern- 
ing the rights of others and love of truth 
at that time developed in the consciousness 
of the Jewish race were subject to many 
limitations, and that the value, in a material 
and spiritual sense, of the Commandments 
would largely depend upon the reverent re- 
spect inspired among the masses for sacred 
things, and the obligations due to those who 
were serving as priests and expounders of 
spiritual principles. At that time no other 
race, tribe, or nation had instituted any 
system of oaths or affirmations calling, as 
witnesses of sincerity, intelligences believed to 
exist in superior states. 

[249] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

Doubtless through the administration of 
oaths, and the severe punishment of those 
convicted of perjury, the masses were taught 
to fear the Law, and that thereby justice was 
more easily enforced than would have been the 
case under any other system of government. 
The general purposes and objects of those 
in authority were thereby better attained. 
The increased sanctity of, and respect for, 
the Law, and for those concerned in its en- 
forcement, were thereby so firmly established 
that the system received its complete justi- 
fication by results obtained. The laws con- 
cerning oaths, as enforced by Moses, have 
continued without essential change through 
all the ages, and the greater benefits have been 
secured where the laws relating thereto have 
been most rigidly enforced. In the begin- 
ning the chief purpose sought through the 
practice was the more perfect control over 
the different elements of the Jewish popula- 
tion, in the interests of liberty and order. 
Moses required for the accomplishment of his 
undertaking, not only the semblance, but 
the fact, of an orderly government, a central 

[250] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

source of authority, and to those who are 
accustomed to acknowledge the rule of Law, 
it appears not without justification and rea- 
son that he employed all possible agencies 
to accomplish his purposes. 

That the system subsequently assisted the 
establishment of a hierarchy, by a body of 
what we would term "ecclesiastical rulers/' may 
not be accepted as evidence that oaths were 
not at the time politic and needful, nor that 
the interests of the Jews were not thereby 
subserved. Moses, above all others of his 
age, was distinguished for superiority in the 
practical application of means to ends. He 
was a person of large executive capacity, 
one who expressed his ideas in useful action 
in preference to words. It was therefore 
appropriate that such a person should first 
receive revelations of the Law, and that he 
should be used as an agent of the spirit 
to formulate methods for the teaching and 
enforcement of its mandates. 

The probabilities that the Jews might mis- 
understand the importance of, or at least not 
appreciate the sacredness of, an oath, and that 

[251] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

from such causes through the law of corre- 
spondences the doors might be opened afford- 
ing opportunities for the influx of obsessing 
or misleading influences, which might tem- 
porarily obstruct progress through control 
over the life and actions of some, was appar- 
ently foreseen, for it was stated in substance, 
that he who approached the altar of truth 
in a vain spirit should not be held guiltless. 
We infer that, in the very beginning, the pen- 
alties for taking the name of the Lord in vain 
were to be adjudged upon the transgressor 
by the priests, though subsequently special 
laws were made involving severe penalties 
for the punishment of perjury or the giving 
of false testimony in any matter, and the 
enforcement of penalties for violations thereof 
delegated to those members of the priesthood 
appointed to serve the state in civil capacities. 



[252] 



XXXV 

" Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." 

— Exodus 20 : 8. 

" Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work." 

— Ibid. 20:9. 

" But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord 
thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, 
nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor 
thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger 
that is within thy gates." — Ibid. 20:10. 

" For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, 
the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh 
day : wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and 
hallowed it." — Ibid. 20 : 11. 

While in the physical body one may real- 
ize states of consciousness related or akin to 
celestial conditions, and be encircled by 
spiritual influences bathed, as it were, in an 
atmosphere permeated by the divine light. 
The life and conduct of such an one will 
reflect the plane of his attainment, affording 

[253] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

evidences of his progress perceptible unto all 
who come within the scope of his influence. 
As such an one advances to higher planes of 
realization ; he more definitely than before 
perceives that when he shall have attained 
the perfect harmony he will need neither 
mandates, laws, nor observances for his own 
government. Conceivably, after having real- 
ized such an ineffable state of being, one 
may more fully, than when in lower condi- 
tions, realize the necessity and value of spirit- 
ual ministrations of those in realms of light 
unto spirits in darkness. When one has 
attained absolute harmony, the Command- 
ment to remember the Sabbath day to keep 
it holy, is inapplicable, not a needful direc- 
tion, for in consciousness he is already in 
relations with those in illuminated states, 
and is himself a perfected spirit. But with 
the brother upon a lower plane of expres- 
sion, conditions are otherwise. While in 
spiritual infancy one may require personal 
contact with objective ceremonies, and may 
derive spiritual advantages from personal 

teaching.. Ministrations bestowed by those 

[254] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

serving in spiritual offices often prove impor- 
tant in another's experience, aiding realiza- 
tion. The end of such needful instruction 
is not yet, as new and important truths 
concerning celestial states of being will be dis- 
covered and taught by those who have devel- 
oped susceptibility to spiritual impressions. 

The Jews, previous to the Commandments, 
had in many respects materially prospered 
far beyond what might have been expected 
when their opportunities for the acquirement 
of wealth and influence were considered. 
Some of the leaders were measurably pre- 
pared to comprehend and profit by the Deca- 
logue, ready for more advanced spiritual 
teachings than those which had previously 
obtained, but the masses desired only some 
revelation relating to material affairs, by 
which they might profit in a monetary way, 
and realize in their own age greater resources 
than they then possessed. In this attitude 
they received the passive cooperation of cer- 
tain leaders who believed they could in this 
way more successfully appeal to the dormant 

consciousness of the race, and inspire it to 

[255] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

greater efforts and sacrifices for the attain- 
ment of liberty. 

Many reasoned that first of all money, 
clothing, and food supplies were required in 
order to succeed, but the wiser ones, while 
not ignoring the value of material resources, 
perceived that a great spiritual awakening 
was the special need, in order that each might 
fully realize his own dependent situation, 
seek instruction from and follow those com- 
petent to direct and lead them. It was also 
materially important to secure the active co- 
operation of those who had not yet given 
adherence to the cause of freedom, for the 
hour was fast approaching when the current 
of events could be no longer obstructed and 
each must choose his course of action. 

In the realms of spirit, all needs had long 
been foreseen and provided for. The Jewish 
horoscope was there known, but to realize 
all the provisions thereof for those then liv- 
ing upon the earth there must needs be awak- 
ened a more general interest, a more united 
effort, a stronger general desire, and greater 
determination to carry to successful issue 

[256] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

the cause which had been theretofore urged 
by comparatively few of the influential 
Jews. At this juncture of affairs, the Com- 
mandments served important spiritual and 
material ends. They announced no new 
principle of ethics, for the Law then, as now, 
was an expression of the Divine Wisdom, and 
included as one of its basic principles the 
command, "Remember the sabbath day, to 
keep it holy. " It also included a principle 
from the beginning inherent in the constitu- 
tion of man, that in "Six days shalt thou 
labour, and do all thy work." "But the 
seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy 
God." The Law contained all these provi- 
sions besides many other things. It was 
then, as now, like unto a Vicegerent of the 
Infinite Voice upon the earth, saying unto 
the Jews : "If ye obey my Law, I will, through 
it, on the sabbath day, synthesize, for the 
spiritual benediction of my chosen people, 
all the heterogeneous, conglomerate, objec- 
tive, and discordant vibrations permeating 
the atmospheres of earth, and ye shall realize 
your desires, aspirations, and cherished hopes. 

[257] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

Ye shall receive answer to your prayers, which 
for more than two centuries have been com- 
ing before me like unto suppliant messengers, 
seeking and trusting the confirmation of 
long-deferred hopes. " In due time answers 
to their prayers were received, but, as is al- 
ways true, either through the agency of inspired 
servants, or revealed in individual conscious- 
ness, according to deserts, each reaping that 
which he had sown, for then, as now, though 
many perceived it not, in order to attain 
a developed self-consciousness and spiritual 
correspondences of the higher order, certain 
attitudes of mind, positive centralizations in 
spirit, and lives devoted to unselfish ends 
were required, in order that happy relations 
with those in superior states might be realized. 
To make one's own personal desires and 
spiritual aspirations real was then, as always 
since, possible, though very few then under- 
stood the terms of its procurement. Man, 
on account of his ignorance of the Law, has 
never fully appreciated nor perceived the 
importance of the attainment of spiritual 
harmony, and has required for proper guidance 

[258] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

certain well-defined regulations, inclusive of 
one day in every seven for special meditation, 
for upon that day he has often received valu- 
able instructions concerning spiritual matters. 
"Six days shalt thou labour, but the seventh 
day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God." 
That regulation conserves the principle of 
harmony, as the physical frame, when in per- 
fect order, may be so continued by six days 
useful, congenial labor, only when the mys- 
tical seventh is spiritually observed. Con- 
sciousness responds to such a disposition of 
time. A day of relaxation from all toil affords 
opportunities for the spirit to extend its sub- 
tile, divine influence over the physical brain, 
and to conserve the welfare of the body. Its 
control of thought, as expressed in acts while 
upon earth, practically aids the construction 
of its prospective spiritual home and defines 
its architecture. 

And that was one of the mystical reasons 
for the institution of the Sabbath. 

The necessity of its continuance has since 
continued. It is based upon the spiritual and 
physical necessities of man, and has, through 

[259] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

all the ages, vindicated its claim to respect 
and maintenance. 

Concerning other references contained in 
the eleventh verse, we would state that dur- 
ing the six preceding cycles or periods of time, 
the theretofore chaotic state of inert matter 
gradually responded to the supreme impulse 
of spirit, resulting in many orderly physical 
manifestations. Man, also, in the sixth cycle, 
materialized a physical form, more complex 
in organization than those evolved by the 
lower orders, which, under intelligent control, 
has proved well designed to serve as the 
vehicle of spirit while engaged in the direction 
of material pursuits. In the first period there 
was light ; in the second, the land and waters ; 
the third, exoteric expressions of spirit, as in 
the growth of the grasses, fruits, forests — 
all reflecting evidences of the wisdom embod- 
ied in the Law, and each creation possessing 
the principle of an indestructible life. The 
Law then, as now, in every particular, revealed 
an orderly and continuous course of action, 
results always following causes with absolute 
certainty. Using an Oriental phrase, the 

[260] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

Spirit rested, or apparently ceased further 
visible manifestations, and thereby hallowed 
the seventh period, though it cannot be stated 
that in reality the Law has ever ceased to 
express action, though it may be true that 
at the expiration of six cycles a period of 
apparent rest in creative manifestation in- 
tervened, which has been very properly sym- 
bolized by the institution of a Sabbath, the 
spiritual benefits of which we have but simply 
referred to. 

And so may be defined the halo of mysti- 
cism which has so long surrounded the origin 
of the Sabbath. Its observance and neces- 
sity, founded in the physical and spiritual 
nature of man, will doubtless cause it to be 
recognized until the end. 



L 261] 



XXXVI 

" Honour thy father and thy mother : that thy days 
may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God 
giveth thee." — Exodus 20: 12. 

Though the love of parents for their own 
is rarely wholly unselfish, in general mani- 
festation it reveals the inherent divinity 
of human nature. Love is an attribute of 
spirit apparent in life and conduct. It 
is the central, silent influence in famil- 
iar associations and friendships. It is the 
revelator of character; its complements are 
harmony and peace. It is the reservoir of 
human affection, the fountain of piety, clem- 
ency, self-sacrifice, and when bestowed by 
parents upon children is gratefully and affec- 
tionately repaid many fold. Continuing or 
abiding love is an expression of spirit, differ- 
entiating the human from other orders of 
living entities. The contrast between man 

and such orders is best exhibited in the care 

[262] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

bestowed upon the young, which with the 
animal lasts so long only as first physical 
wants need to be supplied. Such protection 
has well been termed the animal instinct, 
widely differing from the intuitions of self- 
conscious beings. Is it possible to measure 
the love of the mother? Who can measure 
it? Can it be compared with any tempo- 
rary affection? It is never fully expressed 
in joy, sorrow, or sacrifice. Words fail to 
reveal its meaning. It is a divine passion, 
the spiritual foregleam or vision of realities 
yet to be realized. The heart of love reasons 
not, for intuition perceives the beginning and 
the end. It leaps the gulf of despair and 
lights upon the mount of hope. It is young, 
it is old, but never dies. It lives in all cli- 
mates and is known under many names. It 
is invisible yet visible, the strongest force in 
all the universe. 

This commandment, like unto the others, 
applies only to that order of beings which has 
realized the divine self-consciousness, for no 
other could comply with its conditions or enjoy 

the rewards of obedience thereto. 

[263] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

In the operation of natural law the parents 
have served as vehicles for the entrance of 
spirit upon the plane of earth life, and through 
such agencies the spirit manifesting in the child 
secures an opportunity for necessary experi- 
ence, and should therefore be under grateful 
obligations, holding them in honor and love. 
It is also under many obligations to honor 
those whose material care provides necessary 
food and raiment for the body. Unto the 
child the parent may teach many useful facts 
appealing both to imagination and reason and 
materially assisting it in all ways. Such oppor- 
tunities for the realization of destiny naturally 
do and should awaken in the child love and 
honor for those from whom it has received so 
much. It is reserved unto the parent to give 
direction to the child's imagination. There is 
also another source of benefits promised, which 
apply only to the spirit's earth life, — "That 
your days may be long upon the earth." With 
length of days are offered many occasions for 
the realization of wisdom, and by the employ- 
ment of wisdom to useful ends one serves as a 
medium of revelation unto others. The sub- 

[264] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

stance of the promise is that services of honor 
increase the days upon the earth, creating 
opportunities for one to more fully achieve 
the object of life existence, so that thereafter 
he may enter other and higher spheres of divine 
usefulness. All duties of earth, even the simple 
and plain ones, when clearly perceived and 
performed, bear a relation to destiny and are 
counterparts or reflections of higher relations 
which we shall yet perceive as realities. The 
command is to the child-spirit in temporary 
exile, subject to those conditions which obtain 
on the plane of earth, to honor the spirit of 
the parent, which has in some larger measure 
learned to properly estimate the illusive images 
of the world of sense. In a material and 
practical sense, the commandment was a neces- 
sity at the time of its issue, and cooperated 
with other means previously adopted for the 
preservation of order in the camps of those 
tribes which had not been accustomed to re- 
straint and did not recognize the difference 
between liberty and license. While the obli- 
gation of the child to honor the parent is, 
indeed, an ever present duty, there are also 

[265] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

corresponding obligations of the parent unto 
the child which should not be disregarded. 

There is also another important matter to 
which we will briefly refer bearing special rela- 
tion to the text. The subject of aural emana- 
tions and attractions is important, about 
which much should be written in order to fully 
explain our relations as affected by them, but 
for certain illustrative purposes only, we will 
simply refer to the subject here. 

As spirit may and should ever control 
thought, and be, in reality, what nature fore- 
shadows, a wellspring or fountain of exhaust- 
less benefits, so also the radiations of the human 
body, — its aura, when spirit is regnant, serves 
the beneficent purpose of attracting the child 
to the parent, of securing its love and cement- 
ing the interests of each in a compact unity 
of purpose, feeling, and desire. It is the all- 
powerful agency through which the child may 
be held to right action, and taught and led in 
ways of wisdom. 

Theharmonial blending of the aural radiations 
of the parent and child is only possible where 
love is the ruling influence in the heart of each. 

[266] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

The stronger will attract the weaker to itself , 
and naturally the parent will lead the young 
mind and create for it many opportunities, 
drawing upon its earth experience in teaching 
it. 

The wise parent, knowing the importance of 
aural attractions, will so govern his thoughts 
and passions that only good to the child will 
result from the intimate blending of the radia- 
tions of each. 

While our remarks concerning the fifth com- 
mandment have been somewhat confined to 
material definitions, we also feel it incumbent 
upon us to refer to its higher spiritual meaning. 

The Infinite Spirit, or God, has, from the 
beginning of the manifestations of His Law, 
in the control of the affairs of earth, revealed 
Himself in a threefold aspect, illustrated in 
Scripture by Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 
Logos, or Divine Manifestation. These aspects 
of revelation appeal to the consciousness of the 
human race. Life is unity and all its expressions 
are controlled by the One Law. All are parts of 
and included in the universal spiritual whole, 
and every one bound to respect the conditions 

[267] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

of each birth and life. The child in other 
spheres may have been the present parents' 
teacher, and upon our entrance into future 
relations former conditions may again be 
resumed. Here, however, the commandment 
is " Honor thy father and thy mother/ 7 and 
as the law for the care and education of 
the child enforces the equal responsibility of 
father and mother, there is certainly in the 
highest spiritual sense due from it honor, love, 
and obedience unto each. 



[268] 



XXXVII 

"Thou shalt not kill." — Exodus 20: 13. 

To accomplish the death of enemies, ap- 
pears from the beginning to have been con- 
sidered justifiable, even a necessity, by those 
ignorant of the persistence of life after death 
and of its supreme value while animating the 
human frame. The idea for a long period 
generally prevailed, and even unto the present 
day is held by many, that death and annihila- 
tion are practically equivalent terms. No other 
conclusion could have been logically accepted by 
those who did not believe in a future spiritual 
existence. Although the spirit in man from 
the beginning has furnished positive and un- 
deniable proof of its persistence after death, 
a vast number of errors have been taught relat- 
ing to its destiny, its possibilities of evolution, 
its future expression through other vehicles, 
the nature and duration of its progress, its 

[269] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

various incarnations, and changes of conditions. 
Never having realized perfect harmony, he has 
sought through the exercise of physical force 
to control events when results did not accord 
with his desires, and when they might possibly 
injuriously affect real or supposed interests of 
himself or others. Great sacrifices of physical 
lives have resulted from wars, often conducted 
for revenge or for the correction of actual or 
fancied wrongs suffered at the hands of enemies, 
the chief participants in such scenes not con- 
sidering that their contributions would mate- 
rially increase the sum of existing discords, 
and possibly destroy the happiness and for- 
tunes of many only remotely concerned. The 
divine self-consciousness, fully realized in the 
heart of man, leads to the respect of the rights 
of others, and in all ways is productive of har- 
mony, not discord. Every person, whether 
great or limited in reason, is either the repre- 
sentative of the principle of harmony or is in 
some manner allied with those yet in discord- 
ant conditions, — is either an exponent of 
light or a representative of darkness. Such 
relations apply to both those in material and 

[270] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

excarnate states of existence, for there are 
many planes upon which the spirit vibrates 
and upon which it more or less luminously 
reflects the light. It always reveals the plane 
of realization to which it has attained in the 
course of its progressive evolution. During all 
such progressions, it is environed by such in- 
fluences as it naturally attracts to itself. 

In the lower conditions of physical life, 
where dense ignorance prevails, the first resort 
for the correction of real or fancied wrongs has 
usually been to physical force, the ebullition 
of savage energy, if we may use such an ex- 
pression, descriptive of crude ideas and methods 
in the adjustment of differences, indicating 
ignorance of spiritual laws. 

A noble aspiration or intention may, from 
various causes, for the time fail to accomplish 
desires, but is never wholly annihilated, as 
nothing is ever lost. Physical death does not 
prevent further manifestation of life, nor does 
it in the end sensibly impede the original pur- 
poses of spirit, though it may temporarily 
alter its methods of procedure, as in cases 
where some special work is projected or is in 

[271] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

process of accomplishment. The spirit may- 
meet temporary obstructions in its career of 
usefulness, in consequence of the successful at- 
tempts of ignorant persons to destroy its bodily 
vehicle. 

It is hardly necessary to say that the benign 
purposes of advanced intelligences are accom- 
plished in the end. The person who has 
realized but little spiritual progress is not 
usually iconoclastic, but more susceptible than 
others to impressions caused by the introduc- 
tion of forms and ceremonies. Such an one 
has not realized sufficient light to be indepen- 
dent. But the desire of the grossly ignorant 
is however often expressed in attempted de- 
struction of such rites, and is never construc- 
tive or persistent in effort for the general good. 
The power to do evil is not always confined to 
the physical life, for some seek the gratification 
of the lower nature after having passed into 
astral existence. The crime which the text 
prohibits, always, and principally, reacts upon 
the one guilty of its commission, though in 
some, probably in most cases, it does also, for 
the time, defer the full and free action of the 

[272] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

karmic law, which may possibly at the time 
have been working for the benefit of the victim, 
and on account of such a possible result the 
enormity of a particular criminal act may be 
increased, as also the penalty on account there- 
of subsequently suffered by the one guilty of 
its commission. 

The need of the commandment, "Thou 
shalt not kill," was at the time of its issuance 
specially obvious, as from various causes 
antagonisms had arisen among the Jews, 
caused by supposed favoritisms or advantages 
pertaining to the payment of taxes and military 
services, which, long before Moses, had been 
secured by certain influential Jews from the 
Egyptians, and had descended from age to 
age in particular families, always a somewhat 
fruitful source of discord. Frequent murders 
had occurred, resulting from claims made on 
account of priority of possessions of lands, and 
also for the nonpayment of tithes from the 
products of certain lands cultivated for the 
public benefit, against periods of famine. Be- 
sides the foregoing causes, there was the refusal 

of some, and the neglect of others, to contribute 

[273] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

towards the necessities and general support of 
the priesthood. Not a few declined to acknowl- 
edge or in any manner recognize certain heredi- 
tary privileges long exercised by the priests. 
Divisions had also arisen on account of the 
failure to render homage unto the Jehovah. 
Many Jews, as heretofore referred to, had 
practically renounced the faith of Abraham and 
were now outcasts from kindred and friends. 

The reader will perceive that such conditions 
favored license rather than the orderly reign 
of law and religion. The commandment, "Thou 
shalt not kill," was in fact opportune, and 
required for the protection of many innocent 
persons who might otherwise have been vic- 
tims of the savage instincts of the lawless. 

None other than Moses could in those times 
have enforced penalties against commission of 
such crimes. 

While subsequent ages have perpetuated his 
just renown as the Great Lawgiver, we think 
none should fail to recognize his superior execu- 
tive ability, so successfully demonstrated under 
many adverse influences. 

[274] 



XXXVIII 

" Thou shalt not commit adultery/' — Exodus 20 : 14. 

When Moses announced the Commandments, 
the moral sense of the Jewish race was at such 
a low ebb that only a revelation, confirmed 
by control of the elements, could impress the 
masses and establish the authority of the 
priesthood, an object greatly desired. 

During the preceding ages, even antedating 
bondage, the chastity of Jewish women had 
never been very highly respected. Pure social 
conduct was not regarded a personal obliga- 
tion. There were no legal prohibitions, and 
even those serving as teachers of morality did 
not always by righteous example lead or in- 
struct others. Under slavery many lewd and 
evil practices had become common. Sins 
against public and private morality were per- 
mitted to pass unnoticed, without reproof or 
the condemnation of those engaged in public 

[275] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

teaching. Black clouds of despair hung over 
the race, the natural companions of domestic 
demoralization. 

Belief in a special providence guarding the 
destinies of the Jews no longer obtained. Are 
we not in slavery ? Have our conditions in any 
respect improved since the days of our father 
Abraham ? Such questions conveyed their own 
answers. Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for 
to-rnorrow we die, — very specious reasonings, 
not unknown in every age, but never true. 
Such were the conditions, public and private, 
prevailing throughout all Egypt, that enlisted 
the earnest attention of Moses, and led him to 
seek the cooperation of the leaders of his race, 
and to secure their financial support in his 
efforts to realize freedom. 

The principal enemies of the cause were 
certain ones of the household of faith who con- 
sidered the movement unwise, and were sus- 
tained by those Jews born of Egyptian mothers 
and by those allied by marriage with Egyptian 
women, many of whom had been practically 
ostracized and separated from the race. The 
first object of Moses was to rescue the latter 

[276] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

class from the sloughs of faithless despondency, 
into which misconduct and error had led, for 
he well judged that, when a higher standard of 
morality had been permanently established, 
there would be attracted to the cause those 
able to comprehend the necessities of the hour, 
and willing to contribute to its success, for such 
is the law of human conduct, and the time to 
which we refer was not an exceptional time in 
respect of its manifestation. Therein Moses 
proved himself a great leader and commander 
of men, equal to the exigencies of the hour. 
He had been prepared to receive, retain, and 
make effective the substance of instructions 
transmitted from spiritual zones. How was 
such an apparent marvel accomplished? 
Those not conversant with spiritual methods 
of preparation and instruction may appropri- 
ately make the inquiry. For the benefit of 
those desiring light, we will state that ad- 
vanced intelligences, such as have attained 
states of illumination, can control certain vibra- 
tory rates which obtain in the ethers of space. 
Through vibrations, adjusted to sensitive and 

responsive minds, it is frequently possible to 

[277] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

establish relations which enable the human 
instrument to more or less perfectly reflect 
the thought of the communicating intelligence. 
When relations of this character have been 
developed, it is easily possible for spirit intelli- 
gences to reveal such truths as they may deem 
advisable. Sometimes long preliminary prepa- 
rations on the part of the instrument of spirit 
are required in order that the brain cells may 
become sensitive to etheric vibratory impres- 
sions, in such ratios as are employed by the 
Celestial Intelligences for the transmission of 
thought. In proportion to relations of har- 
monial development, the human mind may serve 
as a receiver and deliverer of communications 
from those in the spirit world. 

The realization of capacities herein indi- 
cated is not dependent upon education nor on 
such mental training as schools confer. 

Moses was selected and by advanced intelli- 
gences prepared to serve as an instrument for 
the reception and teaching of the Command- 
ments and as the chief executive in the enforce- 
ment of penalties for violation thereof. The 

substance of the Commandments was not 

[278] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

new. As a matter of fact, though perhaps 
not now historically provable, other nations 
had received similar commandments, by like 
methods of revelation, but sufficient spiritual 
progress had not been realized by the chief 
leaders to preserve the teachings. There was 
no public recognition of their great value. The 
tablets of the Law revealed and delivered to 
other nations, with one exception, had been 
lost through neglect, as the truths thereon 
imprinted appealed not to the consciousness 
of the times. In the exceptional instance, the 
principles of the Law were inscribed upon pub- 
lic monuments, but the destructive hands of 
subsequent conquerors had long before de- 
stroyed the visible expressions of the invisible 
realities. 

The Commandments, as such, were at no 
time popular in the sense of receiving univer- 
sal support. The reasons therefor may be 
readily imagined. They were directed against 
the common sins of the age, and possibly not 
one of them had more direct application to the 
prevailing conditions of life and really received 
less moral support than the one under con- 

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THE PAST EEVEALED 

sideration. The reader will observe it is given 
in five words. 

The purity of the blood of the race, the 
Jewish destiny, and the realization of the 
ethical hopes of certain teachers were largely 
involved in the strict observance of this im- 
portant commandment. Beyond all material 
estimates, superior to most other considera- 
tions, Moses esteemed the preservation of the 
principle of social conduct. He foresaw the 
future of the race jeopardized, its moral per- 
ceptions weakened and destroyed, through 
disregard of obvious and just rules of per- 
sonal conduct. But there were grave con- 
siderations, other than those above referred 
to, why the seventh commandment should be 
respected and its priceless value treasured. 
Whenever adultery is committed, thereafter 
discord prevails in the house of the guilty, 
affecting not only the lives of those immedi- 
ately concerned therein, but reflecting its bale- 
ful influences upon those who subsequently 
enter upon earthly careers through the agency 
of such guilty persons. Such as are attracted 
to connections of this sort have rarely been 

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THE PAST EEVEALED 

able to escape from the power of previous low 
environments, and in the astral world find 
themselves still bound by earth attractions 
that afford but few if any spiritual benefits or 
opportunities for progress. 

In such manner those guilty of adultery 
often unconsciously transmit to the third and 
fourth generations the effects of their own sins, 
though succeeding lives may not clearly indi- 
cate the cause of their unfortunate inheritances. 
Further, the political relations of the state are 
generally a correct reflex of the average moral 
perception of its citizens. The prevailing ideas 
of public officials may be perceived by the 
senses of those susceptible to occult influences. 
Such need not be told whether the state will 
continue to exist an important factor in the 
family of nations, or be destroyed by revul- 
sions of the moral sense or by revolutionary 
upheavals, directed by those who hope to 
secure financial gains or political ascendency. 
The state can never be better than the average 
virtue of its individual members. Its material 
and spiritual progress is influenced by the 
general moral conduct of each person. 

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THE PAST KEVEALED 

This fact furnishes an important and cogent 
argument for the maintenance of pure charac- 
ter. There are also other important reasons 
why the citizen should shun even the appear- 
ance of evil in the relations to which we refer. 
To those possessing spiritual sight, the aural 
emanations of persons living in adulterous 
relations indicate a low plane in the scale of 
progress. Their radiations or psychic atmos- 
pheres are unmistakable evidences of the 
sensual influences uppermost in thought. 

The conditions of inharmony created by per- 
sonal misconduct are, either in youth or age, 
reflected in the physical frame, and are the 
fruitful causes of much suffering. Such effects 
are efforts of nature to restore a disturbed 
equilibrium, and often relate guilty ones to 
previous periods of immoral action. 

There is another view of the fearful results 
of the adulterous conduct to which we would 
especially refer. The inhabitants of this world 
have all been previous inhabitants of the spirit 
world, for from such sources is the earth re- 
plenished. It is but the truth when we state 
that every one who has returned to this planet 

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THE PAST REVEALED 

has gone forth from his unhappy spiritual state 
resolved to correct all previous errors of con- 
duct. We owe such returning entities a great 
obligation. We are, as it were, under bonds to 
provide for them moral surroundings and the 
benefits of the best teachings procurable, for 
upon their reentrance to spiritual states of 
being they will naturally be attracted to those 
conditions with which they were in correspond- 
ence while upon the earth plane. We are in a 
most solemn sense our brother's keeper. No 
one can lead another into the circle of adulter- 
ous actions without incurring a responsibility 
for which he will be required to answer at the 
bar of individual consciousness. The divine 
law of the universe permits no guilty one to 
escape. In some manner expiation is required 
for every sin. The laws of moral conduct are 
perfect and unchangeable and have existed 
from the beginning, though sometimes not very 
distinctly impressed upon human consciousness. 
This commandment was made mandatory by 
Moses in consequence of many transgressions. 



[283] 



XXXIX 

"Thou shalt not steal." — Exodus 20: 15. 

Long anterior to this commandment, a 
knowledge of material values expressed in 
silver and gold and precious stones obtained 
among the Jews, but at first only a limited 
trade was carried on, principally confined to 
the purchase and sale of flocks and herds 
and to edible products of the soil. Then, as 
now, the exchangeable value of all objects 
was practically regulated by supply and demand. 

A system of barter had also long prevailed 
not unlike present customs in many com- 
munities. In subsequent ages, metallic cur- 
rencies having proved convenient, commer- 
cial transactions were greatly enlarged through 
their use as mediums of exchange. Prin- 
cipally, for practical reasons, those metals, 
scarce and difficult to procure, representing 

considerable labor in limited volume, became 

[284] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

objects of general desire, their respective 
values being regulated by the quantities pro- 
duced, demand, labor expended in obtaining 
them, variety of utilities, and other considera- 
tions. Substitutes for gold and silver have 
in past ages been employed with varying 
degrees of success, but have never for any 
extended period proved practically useful 
under all conditions. 

The law which obtained with the Jews in 
regard to exchangeable values was essentially 
occult and a reflection of the principle of 
rewards in preferments and realizations which 
existed in celestial realms. Through its appli- 
cation Moses realized essentially correct ideas 
regarding the spiritual laws of correspondences 
and forces, in harmony with which the illu- 
minati of the higher spheres are enabled to 
control material conditions upon the earth. 
If, in spirit life, one should desire, he could 
not really appropriate something belonging 
to another, for there the invisible but positive 
principles of character constitute one's only 
possessions. There neither precious metals, 
so-called, nor material properties, in the earth 

[285] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

sense, abound, nor could they serve any spirit- 
ual ends if they existed. In its true mean- 
ing, stealing is subject to a much larger defini- 
tion than the mere illegal taking of another's 
material possessions. In certain states of 
excarnate existence, there are those yet sub- 
ject to the bondage of discordant volitions, 
who have not realized spiritual harmony, 
whose principal attractions are found in the 
magnetic zones, and who do not understand 
the celestial system of rewards, nor that it 
is possible for them to realize harmonious 
relations that obtain in the electrical and 
etheric spheres of being, nor do many of them 
perceive any justice in spiritual preferments 
realized by the pure and wise. They go 
about teaching those as ignorant of the Law 
as themselves the possibility and the great 
advantage to be derived through the main- 
tenance of former earthly relations, and 
that one may obtain happiness from the re- 
newal of the pursuits and practices that in 
earth life yielded discords only. The realiza- 
tion of the spirit's natural birthright to a 
constantly increasing enjoyment of the celes- 

[286] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

tial beatitudes is through such advice and 
leading often retarded. The teaching of 
errors may be correctly defined as the stealing 
from others of the opportunities of spiritual 
progress. It is needless to say that constant 
failures and rebukes of conscience are the 
punishments meted to those who accept such 
advice and guidance. 

Through the severe lessons and experiences 
resulting from the willful violation of the Law, 
those in low conditions finally obtain glimpses 
of the more perfect state and the radiant 
happiness of those who exist therein. They 
learn the futility of further efforts to realize 
happiness in opposition to the Law of life, 
and thereafter enter upon careers of slow but 
progressive acquirements of useful wisdom. 
In such manner the ministry of apparent evil 
is made to serve divine ends, but we would 
not teach that results so outwrought in any 
way justify the commission of errors. Steal- 
ing, defined as the appropriation of anything 
of value or desire belonging to or in the legal 
possession of another, attracts to the guilty 
those intelligences who are influenced, some- 

[287] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

times completely controlled, by similar desires 
and motives as themselves, who, through the 
fertility of their conceptions, suggest to and 
urge their subjects on to the commission of 
many errors. In such ways certain undevel- 
oped astral intelligences obtain ascendency 
over those inclined to yield to their sug- 
gestions. The result is a complete temporary 
subjugation of the will. Painful, indeed, are 
the conditions of such to the vision of those 
who have attained to spheres of superior 
wisdom, for they clearly foresee the dire dis- 
appointments which await the victims of such 
unfortunate counsels. So positive in the 
spheres of excarnate life are the operations of 
spiritual laws, that no one escapes who dis- 
regards the intuitions of his own conscious- 
ness, deeply infixed, and forever the safe and 
proper guide of thought and action. In a 
certain occult and comparative sense, all con- 
ditions that prevail upon the physical plane 
of life are reflections of that which obtain in 
some one or other of the spiritual spheres. 
General prohibitions are therefore applicable 
to each state, though the manifestations of 

[288] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

the Law are apparently more complex in the 
advanced states. Upon the earth the penal- 
ties of error are physical and psychical dis- 
cords, in other conditions of life occultly 
experienced in consciousness. The command- 
ment, "Thou shalt not steal/ ' at first was 
intended to regulate individual rights con- 
cerning material things among the Jews. 
Some of the tribes included in the exodus 
had succeeded in the accumulation of certain 
material values, which, as claimed by the 
leaders of the other tribes, were rightly com- 
munity property, subject to general distribu- 
tion for the equal benefit of all. Now, while 
the success of the exodus was very near to the 
heart of Moses, a matter which concerned the 
welfare of every one in any manner related 
thereto, he clearly foresaw that the sacred 
rights of individuals must be conserved and 
respected, in order that unity of purpose 
should be maintained and the adhesion of 
influential Jews continued. Altruistic con- 
siderations were therefore very properly sub- 
ordinated to the practical sense of right and 
justice. The prevention of practices sure to 

[289] 



THE PAST BEVEALED 

lead to a general disintegration of the Jewish 
forces was a prime and obvious necessity, even 
though military penalties should be inflicted 
upon those found guilty of the violation of 
the principle recognizing individual right to 
the possession of one's own. 

Not long after the enforcement of the com- 
mand, "Thou shalt not steal/ 9 order evolved 
out of apparent chaos, license was succeeded 
by liberty, disorder by more harmonious con- 
ditions, and success from former states of 
discord and failure; despair gave way to 
hope, — all natural, concomitant results of 
the enforcement of equality between tribes 
and individual members thereof. The recog- 
nition of personal rights to the products or 
results of one's own labor or skill, among the 
Jews established and confirmed a principle 
theretofore too lightly respected. Strict 
obedience to the commandment in a meta- 
physical sense portends the final conquest of 
self, the resurrection of that spark of divine 
light so distinctly manifested in the conscious- 
ness of the great Eastern Seer, destined finally 

to illumine the soul of mankind. 

[290] 



XL 

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy 
neighbour." — Exodus 20: 16. 

At first, the above, as also the preceding 
commandment, related to the social and 
material affairs of the Jews. For obvious 
reasons each was made prohibitory. The 
Jewish race of the period of Moses had not 
attained to that state of civilization which 
fully recognizes that the individual possession 
of one's own best conserves the general wel- 
fare. Though it had been in servitude for 
over two hundred years, it still retained its 
nomadic tendencies, never having had an 
opportunity to develop any system of laws 
or jurisprudence. Personal desires, jealousies, 
and intrigues of various sorts reflected the 
prevailing state of morals. Few indeed had 
realized that plane of consciousness upon 

which truth is revered as a sacred principle, 

[291] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

and soon after the commencement of the 
exodus many engaged in undertakings which 
best subserved personal interests, and were only 
restrained from the commission of overt acts 
through fear of physical suffering inflicted upon 
those convicted before the priests. Anterior to 
the Commandments a semblance of order had 
been maintained through the enforcement of 
certain hierarchal powers, but the Command- 
ments were designed to supersede or limit 
such authority and to become laws that should 
have more general application and be recog- 
nized in all ages as true principles upon which 
to base the superstructures of all succeeding 
states and governments. 

Moses knew that the ends of justice required 
that penalties for violations of law should be 
put only upon those who were in fact willfully 
guilty, and that every cause would be the 
better served when convictions were pro- 
cured upon the evidence of more than one 
person. Through false testimony many com- 
plications had arisen, and some had escaped 
just punishment. Such failures of justice 
had been too common, but then, as now, the 

[292] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

escape of the guilty was preferable to the 
conviction of the innocent. The value of 
this commandment was subsequently clearly 
shown by comparison with previous failures. 
Desired results were more frequently realized 
than before ; and in other essential matters 
some progress was observable, as the Law 
working for good then, as now, asserted its 
inherent strength. About the time concerning 
which we write, a spirit of covetousness had be- 
gun to manifest its baleful influence in various 
matters, especially in an urgent demand for 
a general distribution among all concerned in 
the exodus of the material possessions of 
certain tribes, wealthier than others, who had 
joined therein. 

In relation to the desired division, certain 
ones had given false testimony in support 
of their claims, which had induced Moses to 
refer the causes at issue to the priests for ad- 
justment. He had constituted them the final 
judges in that matter. 

Obedience to the commandment quoted 
was made mandatory by a system of oaths, 

subject to severe penalities for falsely given 

[293] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

testimony, in order to assist the priests in the 
correct solution of the above and many other 
important interests. It was absolutely re- 
quired that truth should be respected in order 
to reach an equitable adjustment of matters 
then in dispute. Since that period the 
human race has failed to evolve any better 
means for the settlement of differences and the 
maintenance of order than those contained 
in the Commandments and in some of the 
other regulations issued for the government 
of the Jews. The Commandments have since 
their promulgation been properly regarded as 
just foundation principles of civil laws for the 
regulation of the general affairs of men. They 
state the chief causes of action contained in 
the judicial laws of all the subsequent ages. 
The frequent disregard of the particular com- 
mandment under consideration is equivalent 
to a general denial of justice, a menace to 
national prosperity and safety. 

Moses doubtless realized that he who first 
conceived an act against public or private in- 
terests, and sought to secure its execution 
through another's agency, sustained a more 

[294] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

dangerous relation to the community than 
the one who actually committed it and after- 
wards gave false evidence in relation thereto 
in order to escape the penalties of the law. 
The former in premediation joined his influence 
to the elemental chaos, and thus increased 
the sum of discords dominant in his own 
nature. We have doubtless all observed that 
the victims of such discordant influences 
rarely respect the diviner intuitions of nature, 
and for the time silence the voice of conscience. 
While it is true that in final outcome, under 
the Perfect Law, no one can forever and com- 
pletely obstruct his brother's spiritual prog- 
ress, this fact should not be used in justi- 
fication of overt acts. Each soul, however 
long retarded in its career, must and does 
ultimately work out its own salvation, and, 
through experiences best fitted for it, realizes 
its reward in final harmony. It were, how- 
ever, perhaps better that he should lose iden- 
tity in the spiritual cosmos than that through 
his false evidence a brother be held in bondage 
to undesirable karmic conditions, and thereby 
be delayed in the realization of his destiny. 

[295] 



XLI 

" Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou 
shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man- 
servant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, 
nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." 

— Exodus 20:17. 

When governed by the principle of love 
one seeks in the various relations of life to 
live justly and righteously , he realizes an inner 
state of peace and joy, gleams of a foreworld, 
a spiritual satisfaction which he would not 
exchange for any material benefits. But 
though we state a great paramount fact, we 
recognize that the affairs of the present world 
must needs continue to engross the energies 
of man so long as the laws of nature await 
his discovery and his application of them 
for the conservation of spiritual and material 
progress of mankind. We hold that the cul- 
tivation of one's intellectual and spiritual 

powers is the chief purpose of life and may 

[296] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

be made a divine, practical service. A person 
whose aspirations are centralized in spirit is 
safe against covetous desires. He will live 
in peaceful atmospheres, and therein realize 
spiritual growth, and according to the measure 
of his progress in such wisdom will continu- 
ally realize more and more the beautiful and 
perfect realities of being. He may call to 
his aid the cooperation of illuminated teachers, 
and need not remain ignorant of any wisdom 
for which he should aspire. He may realize 
immortality in the eternal now. Living in 
a world of inconceivably complex manifesta- 
tions of Law, he may by virtue of his superior 
spiritual insight continually widen the gulf 
separating himself from others who have lived 
less wisely than he. 

Moses having attained wisdom, in conscious- 
ness realized many of the spiritual possibilities 
obtainable by all men who live in conjunction 
with celestial influences. What pertains to 
space and time should attract the studious 
attention of thoughtful persons in every age, 
but the resources of physical nature, on ac- 
count of their convertibility into articles of 

[297] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

use, beauty, and value, have too often awakened 
the covetous passions of mankind, and for 
many centuries have restrained or at least 
greatly retarded the attainment of harmony, 
the chief end of existence. 

It is the supreme privilege and duty of every 
son of humanity to labor in behalf of his 
brothers, for in the ratio of success in such 
efforts he establishes spiritual correspondences 
that enable him to resist covetous desires, and 
to secure for himself release from the undue 
desire of those material attractions which hold 
many to the zones of earth. 

Man's present progress indicates that his 
final destiny is to attain those celestial corre- 
spondences which prevail in higher spheres 
of excarnate existence, and as means of such 
attainment, aspiration and the silence, coupled 
with effort in the service of good, are sure 
to result in blissful satisfactions, enabling one 
to overcome all covetous propensities against 
which this commandment warns us. 

In every community a certain proportion 

of the population are what the world terms 

"successful." They acquire wealth and 

[298] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

everything seems to turn to money. It is 
not for one to judge another, but he who has 
attained sensitiveness to spiritual vibrations 
may read many secret motives influencing 
others. The covetous person carries within 
himself the evidence of his own plane of ex- 
istence, and reveals his attractions through 
the aura. His life sets in motion discordant 
vibrations which in turn react upon himself. 
The avaricious thought returns with com- 
panions to which it has been attracted, and all 
join in a general carnival of discords in the 
mind of the original projector. It may then 
be truly said that the last state is worse 
than the first. 



[299] 



XLII 

In closing our remarks concerning the exo- 
dus, we desire to state some hitherto unre- 
corded facts relating to the life of Moses. 

Beginning when barely thirty years of age, 
he devoted ten years, urging upon those in 
positions of influence a favorable considera- 
tion of the cause which he had undertaken. 
During that preliminary period, in coopera- 
tion with superior intelligences, he performed 
the many wonderful acts which finally forced 
reluctant assent of Pharaoh to the emigration 
of the Jews, who had been in servitude to the 
Egyptians for over two hundred years. He, 
after forty years of service principally spent 
in behalf of his race, without other reward 
than the consciousness of having faithfully 
served, sensible of nature's impending change, 
and as it were beholding in illuminated vision 
the vista of the future, saw the rock of danger, 

[300] 



THE PAST KEVEALED 

against which the fortunes of his race might 
be shipwrecked. 

At this distant period it seems to the 
thoughtful student in perfect harmony with 
the divine order of life that he should depart 
without participation in the troublous times 
which followed. It is consonant with what 
we now know concerning spiritual laws of 
rewards and penalties that his great soul was 
not disturbed by scenes of internal discord and 
by wars with surrounding tribes. 

He had through many sacrifices accom- 
plished much, and when the shadows began 
to lengthen implicitly trusted the wisdom 
taught by that guiding intelligence whose 
inspirations had thus far enabled him to 
successfully face every emergency. He was 
also sustained and greatly comforted by the 
divine self-consciousness which he had in so 
large measure realized. His spiritual guide 
had ever led him aright and had enabled him 
to achieve signal success, as witness the Com- 
mandments revealed unto him and since pre- 
served, which even unto this day receive the 
general assent of mankind. He was himself a 

[301] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

living exemplar of the truth, that righteous- 
ness, as the word implies, consists first in right 
thought illustrated by right action. But 
though he had labored long and faithfully, 
the masses soon after his transition, unmindful 
of the many benefits derived from his wise 
counsels, soon began to unduly desire material 
fortunes and to make the acquisition thereof 
the chief purpose of life. They neglected 
sacrifices which he had ordained for their 
observance, and by general conduct so cir- 
cumscribed the scope and influence of all 
religious rites that the hierarchy upon its 
assumption of the functions of government 
found itself bereft of the support of those who 
controlled the monetary resources of the race. 
Outside the priesthood, comparatively few 
persons of wealth remained faithful to the 
obligations which they had previously assumed. 
Such were the conditions when the hier- 
archy caused to be "made the plate of the 
holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it 
a writing, like the engravings of a signet, 
Holiness to the Lord," hoping thereby to 
impress upon the people a fuller realization 

[302] 



THE PAST EEVEALED 

of their obligations, and that the prestige of 
the sacred orders might thereby be restored. 
The desired result was not, however, so at- 
tained, for the general conduct of the Jews 
had created many retributive causes of action. 
It had charged the atmospheres of Canaan 
with inharmonious vibrations and discordant 
influences. 

The god of war soon sounded his tocsin, 
and a Joshua responded to the call. 

One may imagine the great soul of Moses 
to have been depressed by such happenings, 
but not alarmed, and that unto his vision was 
revealed in clear and perfect light that all would 
result in final good. 



[303] 



XLIII 

" And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, 
that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, 
there stood a man over against him with his sword 
drawn in his hand, and Joshua went unto him, and 
said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries ? " 

—Joshua 5: 13. 

" And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of 
the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face 
to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, 
What saith my Lord unto his servant ? " 

— Ibid. 5 : 14. 

As previously related, Moses in the begin- 
ning of his mission was taken in spirit to the 
third and fourth spheres, and there instructed 
in many important matters, all so deeply 
impressed in consciousness that, upon his 
restoration to physical sensations, he was 
able to recall the substance of the instruction 
so received and to profit thereby. 

His guide and chief counselor was none 

other than the Archangel Michael, and, as may 

[304] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

be inferred, the wisdom acquired from that 
source pertained to spiritual laws, though 
subsequently, in order to successfully accom- 
plish his mission, he was specially instructed 
in regard to the inauguration of a system of 
government based upon the control of affairs 
by a hierarchy of the priesthood, which after 
his death should assume both civil and ecclesi- 
astical functions. The restoration of the Jews 
to freedom, though always very dear to the 
heart of Moses, was, in comparison with this 
supreme purpose, but an incidental service, 
a means to an end, necessary in order to 
successfully establish and maintain ecclesias- 
tical rites and privileges. For the realization 
of his special mission the exodus became a 
necessity, as without political freedom no 
hierarchy could long have been maintained. 
He also foresaw that certain political rights 
must be secured for his people at whatever 
sacrifice, in order to successfully accomplish 
the greater design. 

In the beginning of his mission the Jews 
were unprepared for any form of self-govern- 
ment, as the masses, with few individual 

[305] 



THE PAST REVEALED 

exceptions, associated freedom with those 
conditions which permit and encourage the 
gratification of personal desires. Subsequently, 
in process of the exodus, while in full per- 
sonal authority, he succeeded in establish- 
ing a certain measure of order through the 
enforcement of rigid, necessary, and useful 
regulations, but in the latter part of his life 
discipline became somewhat relaxed and moral 
turpitude and disobedience to lawful order 
increased. Neither appeals to conscience 
nor the teaching of sacred precepts availed 
for the maintenance of good government 
or the enforcement of restraint upon the 
lawless cupidity of those entering upon the 
stage of human activities. As freedom de- 
generated into license, military rule with its 
rigid requirements became necessary in order 
to preserve the common safety. Many causes 
had led to such necessity, among which may 
be mentioned the affluence of nature, which 
provided without much labor for most phys- 
ical needs. Climatic conditions permitted 
idleness, and the prevailing state of moral 

conduct in Canaan was but little above the 

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THE PAST EEVEALED 

previous standard in Egypt. There is a 
divine principle governing human affairs which 
in the end asserts supremacy and corrects 
all errors, but sometimes in the accomplish- 
ment of justice uses the instruments of war 
to secure its ends. The unfortunate state 
of affairs then prevailing demanded military 
control, and, as the Law always provides in- 
struments to enforce its demands, Joshua 
appeared, a soldier, a grim representative of 
force, a willing and obedient servant of that 
spirit which had appeared unto him with the 
drawn sword, indicating the ghastly work of 
destruction in which he should engage. It 
is related that after the announcement of 
the purpose of the manifestation, Joshua fell 
upon his face and desired to know the serv- 
ice required of him. 

Previous to this event there had been many 
individual altercations between the Jews and 
the surrounding tribes in Canaan, for a few 
Jews during the preceding forty years had 
acquired wealth in that country, but until now 
there had been no one familiar with the con- 
duct of war to lead or defend them. During 

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THE PAST REVEALED 

the period of their immigration there had been 
no important battles fought, but the long- 
gathering, portentous clouds were soon to burst 
over that unfortunate country. 

Upon arrival in Canaan, the Jews formed 
small settlements, centers where aged persons 
and children resided, and where all were ac- 
customed to gather, though the general man- 
ner of life was nomadic. Having but few 
material resources, they were in the early 
beginnings of their settlements in the position 
of defendants, and could not have initiated 
any important aggressive movements had they 
so desired, but upon increase of numbers 
and wealth affairs assumed a changed aspect. 
Joshua had been in the service of the Egyptian 
government, a Captain of an important divi- 
sion of its army, and had successfully con- 
ducted many expeditions, and for skill in 
command of men had by orders of Pharaoh 
been advanced through various grades to high 
position, though such advancement had been 
opposed by Egyptian officers. Exceptional 
honors had been bestowed upon him at a 
time when Jewish valor was not generally 

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THE PAST EEVEALED 

rewarded. He was therefore by experience 
well qualified to perform the special service 
which prevailing conditions required. 

He relied upon his own skill and judgment 
in the command of men, and had learned 
from experience the value of strict discipline 
and obedience. When, therefore, he beheld 
a spirit materialized in human form, it was 
quite in order that he should desire to know 
whether he was a friend or an enemy. Though 
long accustomed to command, when the spirit 
announced himself as a Captain of the Host 
of the Lord, he willingly acknowledged obedi- 
ence and accepted the message as an omen 
of victory. That appearance had a mystical 
relation and value, as then, for the first time, 
was revealed to his awakened perception the 
possibility of spirit interposition in the affairs 
of earth. He is recorded to have inquired, 
"What saith my Lord unto his servant?" 



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